Glucose control is at the heart of any diabetes treatment plan. Hyperglycemia is a major problem in diabetes and can affect people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Hyperglycemia includes the following two main conditions.
- Fasting hyperglycemia: refers to blood glucose above 130 mg/dl after fasting for at least 8 hours.
- Postprandial hyperglycemia: refers to blood glucose above 180 mg/dl 2 hours after eating. non-diabetics rarely have a postprandial blood glucose above 140 mg/dl unless they have eaten a very large amount.
Frequent or persistent hyperglycemia can cause damage to nerves, blood vessels, and organs, and can lead to other serious conditions. people with type 1 diabetes have a tendency to accumulate ketone bodies in their blood that can lead to ketoacidosis.
For people with type 2 diabetes and those at high risk for type 2 diabetes, extremely high blood glucose can lead to the body’s inability to cope with the associated potentially fatal condition known as hyperglycemic nonketotic hyperosmolar syndrome (HHNS). Patients initially have significant urinary frequency, followed by a gradual decrease in urination, but the urine may become darker and may even be severely dehydrated.
Immediate treatment of hyperglycemic symptoms can help prevent complications from occurring.
Causes of hyperglycemia
Hyperglycemia may occur if a person with diabetes has the following.
- Something about missing or forgetting to take insulin or oral hypoglycemic medication.
- Consuming a dose of carbohydrate that does not match the insulin dose (too much), or consuming too much carbohydrate in general.
- Infection.
- Illness.
- Stress.
- Less activity or less exercise than usual.
- Participating in strenuous physical activity, especially in patients with high blood glucose levels and low insulin levels.
Symptoms of hyperglycemia
Early signs of hyperglycemia include the following.
- Significant thirst.
- Headache.
- Inability to concentrate.
- Blurred vision.
- Frequent urination.
- Fatigue (feeling of weakness, tiredness).
- Weight loss.
- Glucose over 180 mg/dL.
Persistent hyperglycemia may cause subordinate problems.
- Vaginal and skin infections.
- Slow wound healing.
- Decreased vision.
- Nerve injury can cause painful, cold sensation in the foot, or decreased sensitivity of the foot, and hair loss or erectile dysfunction in the lower extremities.
- Gastrointestinal problems such as chronic constipation or diarrhea.
- Eye, blood vessel, or kidney damage.
How do you treat high blood sugar?
For people with diabetes, if you notice any early signs of high blood sugar, check your blood sugar level and consult your doctor. Your doctor may ask for several test result values and may recommend the following changes.
- Increase water intake: Drinking water helps remove excess sugar from the blood through urine and also helps prevent dehydration.
- Exercise more: Exercise can help lower blood sugar. However, under certain conditions, exercise can raise blood sugar further. Ask your doctor what kind of exercise is best for you. Note: For people with type 1 diabetes who have high blood sugar, check for ketone bodies in the urine. Avoid exercise if ketone bodies are present in the urine. For people with type 2 diabetes who have high blood glucose, make sure they have no ketone bodies in their urine and that they are well hydrated. Only if these levels of control are achieved may the doctor allow the patient to exercise.
- Changing your diet: You may need to meet with a dietitian and change the amount and type of food you consume.
- Changing medications: Your doctor may change the number, timing, or type of diabetes medications you take. Talk to your doctor first or do not make any changes.
For people with type 1 diabetes whose blood glucose level is more than 250 mg/dl, your doctor may ask to check for the presence of ketone bodies in the urine or blood.
For people with blood glucose levels above the treatment goal, consult your doctor.
How do I prevent hyperglycemia?
If you make an effort to control your blood sugar and follow a meal, exercise, and medication plan, you should not worry about developing hyperglycemia. The following methods are recommended.
- Know your diet and calculate the total amount of carbohydrates in each meal and snack.
- Check your blood sugar regularly.
- Tell your doctor if you have recurrent abnormal blood glucose.
- Wear a medical ID to let others know you have diabetes in case of an emergency.