{
  "id": 13834696,
  "title": "‘What do I do when blood sugar level is 278?’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/what-do-i-do-when-blood-sugar-level-is-278-13834696",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-12T00:30:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express - Lifestyle",
    "slug": "the-indian-express-lifestyle",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/what-do-i-do-when-blood-sugar-level-is-278-10898799/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The human body's blood sugar levels can vary throughout the day due to factors like meals, medication, exercise, illness, and stress. When a reading much higher than usual is observed, such as 278 mg/dL, it can cause alarm. Quora user asked this question and medical experts provided guidance. Dr Aarti Ullal, a physician and diabetologist at Gleneagles Hospital Parel, explains that such a high reading indicates hyperglycemia. Although one isolated reading doesn't tell the full story, it should not be ignored.\n\nImmediate steps include confirming the reading by washing hands and repeating the test with a new strip if possible. Stay hydrated, unless a doctor advises otherwise. Avoid sugary foods and drinks and monitor glucose again as advised. If the reading remains high or symptoms appear, contact a doctor promptly.\n\nThe timing of the reading is significant. A post-meal reading should be considered in relation to how long after the meal it was taken, as well as the person's usual glucose pattern and medication plan. Even a post-meal reading of 278 mg/dL is considered high.\n\nHigh blood sugar can become a medical emergency when accompanied by symptoms like severe thirst, frequent urination, vomiting, abdominal pain, weakness, confusion, drowsiness, or difficulty breathing. In these cases, immediate medical attention is crucial. People with type 1 diabetes should be especially vigilant about symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis.\n\nContrary to online advice, exercise is not always the best response to extremely high glucose levels, especially if ketones are present or the person feels unwell. Eating extra carbohydrates is not recommended in this high state unless advised by a healthcare professional.\n\nPeople on diabetes medication or insulin should not adjust their dose without consulting their doctor. Taking additional medication can cause blood sugar to drop too low.\n\nVarious factors can cause a sudden rise in blood sugar, including illness, stress, missed medication, dietary changes, reduced activity, dehydration, and certain medicines like steroids. If readings around 278 mg/dL occur frequently, a doctor's review is recommended, considering various patterns and patterns like fasting, post-meal glucose, HbA1c, medication, diet, activity levels, and possible infections or triggers.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "‘What do I do when blood sugar level is 278?’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/what-do-i-do-when-blood-sugar-level-is-278",
        "published": "2026-10-12T00:30:22.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}