Everyone is different. When blood sugar levels begin to rise or fall outside of normal range, some people with diabetes may not experience any symptoms, while others might have recognizable physical signs. Your blood sugar level may be affected by factors such as:

1. Illness
2. Exercise
3. Stress
4. Excessive heat

You don't have to rely on your body — on physical symptoms — to tell you when your blood sugar levels are falling outside of normal range. To eliminate some of the confusion about what certain symptoms might mean, people with diabetes should rely on the numbers they get from home blood sugar monitoring.

Maintaining tight control over your diabetes is a daily practice of monitoring to know for sure that your blood sugar levels are right on target.

Remember to refer to your User's Guide for instructions on proper usage of your home blood sugar monitor. Monitor your glucose levels as often as your health care provider advises and more often if you miss or add a meal, change your exercise pattern, or feel sick.

Hyperglycemia:
Physical Signs That Blood Sugar Levels Are Too High

1. Frequent urination
2. Increased thirst
3. Feeling tired or fatigued
4. Abdominal pain

Hypoglycemia:
Physical Signs That Blood Sugar Levels Are Too Low

1. Shakiness
2. Dizziness
3. Sweating
4. Hunger
5. Headache
6. Pale skin color
7. Sudden moodiness or behavior changes
8. Clumsy or jerky movements
9. Seizures
10. Difficulty paying attention or confusion
11. Tingling sensations around the mouth