The Inservice Club for Nursing Assistants In the Know Y ou probably work with a number of patients who have diabetes.  You may hear about these patients having high blood sugar or low blood sugar.  You may even be responsible for checking their blood sugar levels with a glucometer.  But what is the big deal about blood sugar anyway?  Why is it so important for diabetics to control their blood sugar levels? L et's start at the beginning.   Our bodies turn most of the food we eat into sugar.  This sugar flows through our blood, ready to give our cells the energy that they need. But there's a catch!  The only way for the blood sugar to get into our cells is by being "carried" in by insulin.  (Insulin is a hormone our bodies make naturally.)    P eople with diabetes don't have enough--or any--insulin to carry all the sugar from their blood to their cells.  Their bodies don't get the energy they need, and the extra sugar in their blood can do lots of damage.  The trick is for diabetics to eat the right foods and to take the right medicines so that they have just enough insulin to carry their blood sugar into their cells.  Too much insulin can make a patient as sick as too much blood sugar.    T he best way to know if a diabetic patient is in balance is to keep track of the blood sugar level.  You can play an important role in helping your patients control their diabetes. Controlling diabetes means keeping a balance between the   amount of blood sugar and the amount of insulin. Diabetes Update: What is Blood Sugar Anyway? Too High or Too Low? If your patient's blood sugar is too high (called "hyperglycemia"): ·   They may not have taken their diabetes medication, or may not have taken it on time. ·   Their doctor might need to change the insulin dose to get a better balance. ·   Your patient may have eaten too much or eaten the wrong foods. ·   They may have an illness, like a cold or the flu, or be under a lot of stress. ·   Your patient may be very hungry, very thirsty, urinate frequently, have dry skin, and be drowsy.  REMEMBER, if the blood sugar is HIGH, the patient will feel DRY. If your patient's blood sugar is too low (called "hypoglycemia"): ·   They may have taken too much diabetes medication. ·   Your patient may have eaten meals or snacks at the wrong time or not at all. ·   They may have gotten more exercise than usual. ·   Your  patient  may  be  shaky,  sweaty,  tired,  confused,  dizzy,  and  have  blurred  vision.   REMEMBER, if the blood sugar is LOW, the patient will be SLOW & WET. ALWAYS REPORT CHANGES IN A DIABETIC PATIENT'S APPEARANCE OR BEHAVIOR TO YOUR SUPERVISOR Published By: In The Know, Inc. 306 Brandermill Drive Durham, NC  27713 (919) 403-8979 © 1998 In the Know, Inc.   May be copied for use within each location that purchases membership in the Inservice Club.