High blood sugar is called hyperglycemia and is one of the diagnostic indicators of diabetes. High blood sugar happens most often in diabetes that isn’t well-controlled or in undiagnosed diabetes. There are many symptoms of high blood sugar. Some of them are similar to symptoms of other disorders, but taken together are a good indicator that a person has hyperglycemia.
The Signs of High Blood Sugar
Blood glucose levels will be too high when you test your blood if you have hyperglycemia. Fasting blood glucose of more than 130 milligrams per deciliter is a sign of high blood sugar. If your blood glucose measurement after a meal is more than 180 milligrams per deciliter, you are experiencing hyperglycemia.
Common physical symptoms of high blood sugar are increased thirst and frequent urination. This excessive thirst linked with diabetes is called polydipsia. It occurs when the blood glucose level is too high for the kidneys to separate glucose out of the bloodstream. This causes a reaction that prevents fluids from being absorbed back into the bloodstream. This process is also the cause of excessive urination. Excessive urination is also caused by increased fluid intake when a person experiences increased thirst.
Fatigue is another common symptom of hyperglycemia. High blood sugar causes circulation to slow down, which means oxygen isn’t getting to the cells in a normal manner. This causes low energy associated with high blood sugar. High blood glucose levels can also cause inflammation in the blood vessels, which triggers the release of immune cells called monocytes into the brain. These cells cause low energy also.
More Serious Symptoms of Hyperglycemia
If left untreated, hyperglycemia can cause other symptoms. Shortness of breath, dry mouth, breath that smells like fruit, nausea, and vomiting are some of the more severe symptoms. These are signs of ketoacidosis, which can lead to diabetic coma. This can be life-threatening. Ketoacidosis is caused when the body can no longer break down glucose for energy and begins to break down fats instead. This causes ketones to be produced. An excess amount of ketones in the blood is dangerous.
The dehydration caused by high blood sugar can also have symptoms of its own. These include nausea, headaches, dizziness, and fainting. Dehydration can also increase the blood glucose levels further because there are not enough fluids in the body to excrete the excess glucose. Dehydration can also cause the body to release hormones like adrenaline, which will block insulin in the bloodstream.
Treat and Prevent Hyperglycemia
Treatment of high blood sugar includes drinking lots of water. This will help flush out the excess glucose and will combat dehydration. Another helpful remedy is to exercise more. However, under certain conditions, increasing exercise is not advisable. Your urine should be tested for ketones. If there are ketones being excreted, you should avoid exercise or check with your doctor to see how much exercise you can do under your unique circumstances.
Prevention of hyperglycemia can be achieved in a few ways. Your doctor may want to change your medication dosage or schedule. He or she may even want to change what medications you are taking to get the best fit for you. You may also want to meet with a dietitian to find the most optimal food plan for your specific situation.
Taking the proper medications, keeping up with an exercise plan, and eating a proper diet can all help keep blood sugar levels normal. Testing blood glucose regularly can help you see problems as they begin to occur. This should help you combat the worst of the symptoms of hyperglycemia and help to turn it around before it leads to ketoacidosis or severe dehydration.
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