Hyperglycemia Overview: Prevention and Management

Hyperglycemia Explained: Diagnosis and Prevention Tips

What Is Hyperglycemia?

Hyperglycemia impacts people with diabetes. Multiple factors play an important part in this condition. Food, illness, physical activity, and medications are not linked to diabetes. Not taking enough insulin or skipping doses or other medication to lower blood sugar can result in hyperglycemia.

It is crucial to treat hyperglycemia. If it is not treated, hyperglycemica can turn serious and create serious health issues which need emergency care, including a diabetic coma. Hyperglycemia which lasts, even if it is not severe, can result in health issues which can affect the eyes, nerves, kidneys, and heart.

Fasting hyperglycemia - This is blood sugar for people who have diabetes which is more than 130 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) after not eating or drinking for at least 8 hours. If your fasting blood glucose is near 100 mg/dL to 125 mg/dL, this means you have prediabetes.

Postprandial or after-meal hyperglycemia - This is blood sugar which is higher than 180 mg/dL 2 hours after you eat. People without diabetes hardly ever have blood sugar leverls over 140 mg/dL after a meal, unless it is really big.

High glucose levels may cause harm to your blood vessels, nerves, and organs. It can also result in other serious conditions. It is crucial to treat high blood sugar right away to assist in avoiding more health problems.

What causes hyperglycemia?

Multiple medical conditions can cause hyperglycemia however the most common by far is diabetes mellitus. In diabetes, blood sugar levels increases either because there is an inadequate amount of insulin in the body or because the body cannot utilise insulin properly.
 

Usually, the pancreas releases insulin post meal so that the cells of the body can use glucose for fuel. This maintains blood glucose levels in the normal range.

Type 1 diabetes is responsible for approximately five per cent of all cases of diabetes & results from damage to the insulin-secreting cells of the pancreas.

Type 2 diabetes is far more common and is linked to the body's inability to efficiently utilise insulin. 

Moreover, to type 1 & type 2, gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes which grows in pregnant women. Studies highlight that between 2% to 10% of all pregnant women get gestational diabetes.

At times, high blood sugar is not the consequence of diabetes. Other medical conditions which can cause the condition include:

• Pancreatic cancer
• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland)
• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
• Cushing's syndrome (elevated blood cortisol level)
• Unusual tumours that secrete hormones, including glucagonoma, pheochromocytoma, or growth hormone-secreting tumours
• Taking certain medications, including glucagon, oral contraceptives, phenothiazines, prednisone, estrogens, beta-blockers, and others, can elevate blood glucose levels
• Severe stresses on the body, such as stroke, trauma, heart attack,  or severe illnesses, can temporarily lead to hyperglycemia

Symptoms

If you have hyperglycaemia, you may:

• feel very thirsty
• need to pass urine (wee) frequently
• have blurred vision
• feel tired or lethargic
• find it hard to concentrate
• feel irritable

If your hyperglycaemia gets worse, you may have diabetic ketoacidosis.

Look out for:

• fruity-smelling breath
• shortness of breath
• dry mouth
• nausea and vomiting
• abdominal pain
• weakness or confusion

Risk Factors of Hyperglycemia

You're more likely to have hyperglycemia if you:

• Don't take enough insulin or other diabetes medicines
• Don't stick with your diabetes food plan
• Don't stay active
• Don't inject insulin the right way or use expired insulin
• Are sick or have an infection
• Take medicines like steroids or those that keep your immune system in check
• Are injured or have had surgery
• Are Stressed
• Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you should take more diabetes medicine than normal when you're ill or dealing with stress.

Diagnosing Hyperglycemia

Different types of blood tests can diagnose hyperglycemia, including:

Random blood glucose: This test indicates the blood sugar level at a particular point in time. Normal values are usually between 70 and 125 mg/dL.

Fasting blood glucose: This is a calculation of blood sugar level taken in the early morning before eating or drinking anything since the night before. Normal fasting blood glucose levels are less than 100 mg/dL. Levels above 100 mg/dL up to 125 mg/dL indicate prediabetes, while levels of 126 mg/dL or above are diagnostic of diabetes.

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test: The oral glucose tolerance test measures blood glucose levels at particular time points after a dose of sugar is consumed. This test is most popularly used to detect gestational diabetes.

Glycohemoglobin A1c: This is a calculation of glucose, which is bound to red blood cells & gives an indication of blood sugar levels over the past two to three months.

Treatment

If you have diabetes, your healthcare provider has most likely given you a diabetes management plan. Check your plan for suggestions on what to do when your blood sugar is too high.

You may need to

• drink plenty of water and avoid drinks containing sugar, alcohol or caffeine
• check your blood glucose level regularly
• check your urine (wee) for ketones
• get extra rest
• change your dose of insulin

Prevention

If you are living with diabetes, you will few times have hyperglycaemia. The following steps will assist in keeping your blood glucose levels in the target range:

• aim for regular physical activity
• prevent weight gain
• lifestyle factors
• follow a healthy eating plan
• take your medicines as prescribed
• manage stress
• have a plan for when you get sick

Bottom line

Blood sugar control is pivotal in managing diabetes since high blood sugar can result in multiple health problems. Track your blood sugar, take insulin or other medicines as prescribed by your healthcare, keep a balanced diet, stay hydrated, and exercise routinely to manage high blood sugar. If you notice symptoms of hyperglycemia, talk to your healthcare provider regarding your diabetes management plan.