WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE . . .

...between hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia?

BOTH refer to blood-sugar levels – the amount of glucose in the blood – and most commonly affect people with diabetes.

Hypoglycaemia occurs when blood-sugar falls too low, and needs to be treated quickly. Symptoms include sweating, tiredness, a fast heartbeat and, in severe cases, seizures.

Hyperglycaemia – when blood-sugar is too high – develops over a few days or a week and causes thirst, a need to urinate frequently, tiredness and blurred vision. Persistently high blood-sugar damages organs and raises the risk of heart attacks.