High Blood Sugar: When Is It an Emergency?
High blood sugar with repeated vomiting, stomach pain, fruity-smelling breath, fast deep breathing, or drowsiness or confusion can be diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a medical emergency. Call 911 or go to the ER now.
A high reading on its own, with thirst and tiredness but no vomiting or drowsiness, usually needs your usual diabetes plan and a call to your doctor. Emergency Plus in Dabouq, Amman is open 24/7.
Key takeaways
- Early signs of high blood sugar are strong thirst, passing a lot of urine, tiredness and blurred vision (NHS).
- DKA signs include vomiting, stomach pain, fruity-smelling breath, fast deep breathing and drowsiness.
- DKA mostly affects people with type 1 diabetes, and illness is a common trigger. Don't stop insulin when you are unwell.
- Vomiting with high sugar, or confusion, needs urgent care.
- Always follow the plan your diabetes team has given you.
If you live with diabetes, a high reading is common and usually manageable. The danger is when sugar stays high and the body begins to break down fat for energy, producing acids called ketones. This guide follows NHS advice. For the opposite problem see low blood sugar, and for fasting see warning signs while fasting.
What are the symptoms of high blood sugar?
- Feeling very thirsty and having a dry mouth.
- Needing to pass urine much more often.
- Tiredness.
- Blurred vision.
- Unplanned weight loss over time, and recurring infections.
What are the warning signs of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)?
- Vomiting and feeling sick.
- Stomach pain.
- Breath that smells fruity, like pear drops or nail varnish.
- Fast, deep breathing.
- Drowsiness, confusion or being hard to wake.
- High sugar readings and, if you can test, ketones in your blood or urine.
DKA needs hospital-level care and can become life-threatening. Don't wait for it to settle on its own.
What should you do when your sugar is high and you feel unwell?
Follow your own sick-day plan: keep taking insulin or medicines as your team advised, drink plenty of sugar-free fluids, and check your sugar and ketones as often as you were told. If you are vomiting, can't keep fluids down, or have any DKA warning signs, call 911 or go to the ER. Note: new weight loss drugs and illness can also cause dehydration and vomiting, see Ozempic and GLP-1 warning signs.
High sugar: how serious is it?
| What it may be | Typical signs | When it happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| High reading, feeling OK | Thirsty, passing more urine, tired | After a meal or missed dose | Follow your plan; call your doctor if it stays high |
| High reading with illness | Fever, vomiting, can't keep fluids down | During infection or illness | Be seen today; ER if vomiting continues |
| Possible DKA | Vomiting, stomach pain, fruity breath, fast deep breathing | Hours to a day or two | Call 911 or go to the ER now |
| Low sugar instead | Shaky, sweaty, hungry, confused | Sudden | Treat low sugar now; see our low sugar guide |
When is high blood sugar an emergency?
Call 911 or go to the ER now if:
- Repeated vomiting, or being unable to keep fluids down.
- Fruity-smelling breath.
- Fast, deep breathing.
- Stomach pain with high sugar.
- Drowsiness, confusion, or being hard to wake.
- Fainting or collapse.
- High readings and ketones that your plan says need urgent care.
See a doctor the same day if:
- Sugar readings staying high for more than a day despite your plan.
- High sugar with a fever, infection or vomiting once or twice.
- Very thirsty and passing a lot of urine, with no diagnosis of diabetes yet.
Usually fine at home if:
- A one-off high reading after a meal, feeling well.
- Mild thirst that eases with water.
- You have followed your plan and the reading is coming down.
What happens when you come to Emergency Plus?
At the emergency department at Emergency Plus in Dabouq, emergency doctors are on site 24/7 and you can walk in without an appointment. The team will ask about your symptoms, check you, and may use the on-site X-ray, ultrasound or laboratory where they are needed. They will explain the right next step for you, in Arabic or English.
High sugar and feeling unwell?
For a life-threatening emergency, call 911 and don't drive yourself. For anything urgent that is not life-threatening, the emergency department at Emergency Plus in Dabouq, Amman is open 24/7 with no appointment, with an Arabic and English speaking team.
Call our 24/7 ER: +962 79 247 1313Sources
- NHS — High blood sugar (hyperglycaemia)
- NHS — Diabetic ketoacidosis
- NHS — Diabetes
- WHO — Diabetes fact sheet
- MedlinePlus — Diabetes
Medical disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you think you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department immediately. Emergency Plus in Dabouq, Amman is open 24/7 — +962 79 247 1313.