Symptoms, causes, and healthy levels

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.

The human body naturally has sugar, or glucose, in the blood. The right amount of blood sugar gives the body’s cells and organs energy. Too much blood sugar is known as hyperglycemia.

The liver and muscles produce some blood sugar, but most comes from food and drinks that contain carbohydrates.

In order to keep blood sugar levels within a normal range, the body needs insulin. Insulin is a hormone that directs the body’s cells to take up glucose and store it.

If there is not enough insulin, or insulin does not work properly, blood sugar builds up. High blood sugar levels can cause health problems.

What does hyperglycemia feel like, why does it happen, and how do you know if your blood sugar levels are too high? Read on to find out more.

Blood sugar is fuel for the body’s organs and functions.

But, having high blood sugar does not provide a boost in energy.

In fact, the opposite often happens, because the body’s cells cannot access the blood sugar for energy.

How does this feel?

When a person has high blood sugar, they may:

• have a headache and other aches and pains
• find it hard to concentrate
• be very thirsty or hungry
• feel drowsy or tired
• have blurred vision
• feel their mouth is dry
• have bloating
• need to urinate often
• notice that wounds take a long time to heal

High blood sugar and low insulin can lead to a rise in ketones, and possibly diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a serious complication that needs urgent medical attention.

If this occurs, the individual may experience:

• shortness of breath
• a fruity taste or smell on the breath
• a rapid heartbeat
• confusion and disorientation
• vomiting
• dehydration
• coma

In addition, the person’s blood sugar levels may be over 250 ml/dL.

People can experience high blood sugar levels in the morning, especially if they have diabetes. Click here to find out more.

Testing kits for levels of blood sugar and ketone levels are available for purchase online, for use at home.

However, anyone who thinks they have diabetes should see a doctor first.

How does high blood sugar affect the body?

High sugar in the blood can lead to a number of other symptoms and complications. Here are just a few.

Urination and thirst: High blood sugar goes into the kidneys and urine. This attracts more water, causing frequent urination. This can also lead to increased thirst, despite drinking enough liquids.

Weight loss: High blood sugar can cause sudden or unexplained weight loss. This occurs because the body’s cells are not getting the glucose they need, so the body burns muscle and fat for energy instead.

Numbness and tingling: High blood sugar can also cause numbness, burning, or tingling in the hands, legs, and feet. This is due to diabetic neuropathy, a complication of diabetes that often occurs after many years of high blood sugar levels.

Long-term complications

Over time, high blood sugar results in harm to the body’s organs and systems. Damage to the blood vessels can lead to complications, including:

• heart attack or stroke
• damage to the eye and loss of vision
• kidney disease or failure
• nerve problems in the skin, especially the feet, leading to sores, infections, and wound healing problems

Several types of diabetes can lead to high blood sugar.

In type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. As a result, the body lacks insulin and blood sugar levels rise.

People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin through a needle, pen, or insulin pump to keep blood sugar levels within the target range.

Only 5 percent of all people with diabetes have type 1, according to the American Diabetes Association.

In type 2 diabetes, the body does produce insulin but is unable to use it properly. The pancreas tries to make more insulin, but often cannot make enough to keep blood sugar levels steady. This is known as insulin resistance.

People with type 2 diabetes may need to take insulin, pills, or make diet or exercise changes to help manage blood sugar levels.

Gestational diabetes can happen when insulin resistance and high blood sugar levels appear during pregnancy. People should monitor this during pregnancy, as it can lead to complications for the mother and the baby. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after delivery.

Cystic fibrosis: There may be a link between diabetes and cystic fibrosis.

Medications: People who take beta blockers and certain steroids may also experience high blood sugar.

Risk factors for high blood sugar

Doctors do not know exactly what causes diabetes. Some factors may increase the risk, however.

Type 1 diabetes

Researchers believe certain genetic or environmental factors may make people more likely to get type 1 diabetes.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) say certain genes play a role, and other factors — such as viruses and infections — may have an impact.

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation say that there is nothing a person can do to prevent type 1 diabetes. Eating, exercise, or other lifestyle choices will not change the outcome.

Type 1 diabetes usually begins during childhood or early adulthood, but it can happen at any age.

Type 2 diabetes

The following risk factors may make developing type 2 diabetes more likely:

• having certain genes
• being overweight or inactive
• having a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes
• having African-American, Alaska Native, American Indian, Asian-American, Hispanic, or Pacific Islander ethnicity
• being aged over 45 years
• receiving treatment for high blood pressure, or having blood pressure of 140/90 or higher
• having low levels of “good” HDL cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides

Share on PinterestRegular blood sugar testing can help people with diabetes keep their blood sugar levels within the target level.

People who have high blood sugar should discuss their target levels with their doctor.

They may need regular testing to keep these within a healthy range. Each person is different and levels can vary between individuals.

To find out their blood sugar levels, the person may need to fast for 8 hours, 2 hours after a meal, or at both times.

Some people may also take a glucose tolerance test, in which they drink a sugary liquid and have a blood test after.

The American Diabetes Association recommend a pre-meal blood sugar level of 80–130 milligrams per deciliter (ml/dL). Around 1 to 2 hours after the beginning of a meal, blood sugar should be less than 180 ml/dL.

Managing blood sugar levels

Many people with diabetes must check their blood sugar levels daily with a glucose meter. This device takes a drop of blood, usually from a finger, and displays the sugar level within a few seconds.

People with type 1 diabetes will need to take insulin as their doctor recommends, usually several times a day.

Those with type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes may need to change their diet and exercise habits. They may also need to take oral medications or insulin.

Share on PinterestMonitoring your diet and exercise alongside blood sugar levels can help you maintain a healthy blood sugar level.

A number of strategies can help prevent hyperglycemia.

People should:

• check their blood sugar levels as their doctor advises and take the correct amount of insulin, if they have type 1 diabetes
• speak to their healthcare provider or dietitian about which foods to eat or avoid, how much to eat, and how often
• take precautions to avoid infections, for example, through regular hand washing, as illness, such as a cold, can trigger a rise in blood pressure
• plan their food intake and exercise to balance blood sugar levels
• minimize stress, as far as possible, for example, through exercise, getting enough sleep, and stress-reducing activities such as meditation or yoga

Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, can happen when a person:

• has certain medical conditions
• uses specific medications
• does a lot of exercise
• skips meals or eats too little

It can also be a side effect of diabetes medicines. Taking too much insulin can result in low blood sugar levels.

Symptoms of low blood sugar may include:

• feeling weak or shaky
• sudden nervousness, anxiety, or irritability
• sweating or chills
• extreme hunger
• confusion
• fast heart rate, or palpitations

A person can treat hypoglycemia rapidly by drinking a fruit juice or eating a glucose tablet, sugar lump, or candy.

Anyone who has frequent episodes of low blood sugar should speak to a doctor. They may recommend changing the type of dose of medication.

Anyone who experiences tiredness, increased thirst, frequent urination, or weight loss should see a doctor, as these could indicate diabetes or another health problem.

A routine health check often involves blood sugar testing, even if the person has no symptoms.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommend that adults age 40 to 70 years who are overweight have tests for diabetes.

Those with a family history of diabetes or other risk factors may need earlier or more frequent tests.

When a person has diabetes, their health and well-being depend on proper management of blood sugar levels.

To improve or maintain a good quality of life, the person should:

• visit a doctor regularly
• take medications as the doctor prescribes
• following diet and exercise guidelines

These strategies can help a person with diabetes to manage blood sugar, and this may slow the progression of diabetes.

The person should also carry a medical ID with them, especially if they use insulin, as this can provide important information in case of an emergency.

The American Diabetes Association note that IDs are now available with a compact USB drive that can contain a full medical record.

Symptoms, causes, and healthy levels

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.

The human body naturally has sugar, or glucose, in the blood. The right amount of blood sugar gives the body’s cells and organs energy. Too much blood sugar is known as hyperglycemia.

The liver and muscles produce some blood sugar, but most comes from food and drinks that contain carbohydrates.

In order to keep blood sugar levels within a normal range, the body needs insulin. Insulin is a hormone that directs the body’s cells to take up glucose and store it.

If there is not enough insulin, or insulin does not work properly, blood sugar builds up. High blood sugar levels can cause health problems.

What does hyperglycemia feel like, why does it happen, and how do you know if your blood sugar levels are too high? Read on to find out more.

Blood sugar is fuel for the body’s organs and functions.

But, having high blood sugar does not provide a boost in energy.

In fact, the opposite often happens, because the body’s cells cannot access the blood sugar for energy.

How does this feel?

When a person has high blood sugar, they may:

• have a headache and other aches and pains
• find it hard to concentrate
• be very thirsty or hungry
• feel drowsy or tired
• have blurred vision
• feel their mouth is dry
• have bloating
• need to urinate often
• notice that wounds take a long time to heal

High blood sugar and low insulin can lead to a rise in ketones, and possibly diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a serious complication that needs urgent medical attention.

If this occurs, the individual may experience:

• shortness of breath
• a fruity taste or smell on the breath
• a rapid heartbeat
• confusion and disorientation
• vomiting
• dehydration
• coma

In addition, the person’s blood sugar levels may be over 250 ml/dL.

People can experience high blood sugar levels in the morning, especially if they have diabetes. Click here to find out more.

Testing kits for levels of blood sugar and ketone levels are available for purchase online, for use at home.

However, anyone who thinks they have diabetes should see a doctor first.

How does high blood sugar affect the body?

High sugar in the blood can lead to a number of other symptoms and complications. Here are just a few.

Urination and thirst: High blood sugar goes into the kidneys and urine. This attracts more water, causing frequent urination. This can also lead to increased thirst, despite drinking enough liquids.

Weight loss: High blood sugar can cause sudden or unexplained weight loss. This occurs because the body’s cells are not getting the glucose they need, so the body burns muscle and fat for energy instead.

Numbness and tingling: High blood sugar can also cause numbness, burning, or tingling in the hands, legs, and feet. This is due to diabetic neuropathy, a complication of diabetes that often occurs after many years of high blood sugar levels.

Long-term complications

Over time, high blood sugar results in harm to the body’s organs and systems. Damage to the blood vessels can lead to complications, including:

• heart attack or stroke
• damage to the eye and loss of vision
• kidney disease or failure
• nerve problems in the skin, especially the feet, leading to sores, infections, and wound healing problems

Several types of diabetes can lead to high blood sugar.

In type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. As a result, the body lacks insulin and blood sugar levels rise.

People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin through a needle, pen, or insulin pump to keep blood sugar levels within the target range.

Only 5 percent of all people with diabetes have type 1, according to the American Diabetes Association.

In type 2 diabetes, the body does produce insulin but is unable to use it properly. The pancreas tries to make more insulin, but often cannot make enough to keep blood sugar levels steady. This is known as insulin resistance.

People with type 2 diabetes may need to take insulin, pills, or make diet or exercise changes to help manage blood sugar levels.

Gestational diabetes can happen when insulin resistance and high blood sugar levels appear during pregnancy. People should monitor this during pregnancy, as it can lead to complications for the mother and the baby. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after delivery.

Cystic fibrosis: There may be a link between diabetes and cystic fibrosis.

Medications: People who take beta blockers and certain steroids may also experience high blood sugar.

Risk factors for high blood sugar

Doctors do not know exactly what causes diabetes. Some factors may increase the risk, however.

Type 1 diabetes

Researchers believe certain genetic or environmental factors may make people more likely to get type 1 diabetes.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) say certain genes play a role, and other factors — such as viruses and infections — may have an impact.

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation say that there is nothing a person can do to prevent type 1 diabetes. Eating, exercise, or other lifestyle choices will not change the outcome.

Type 1 diabetes usually begins during childhood or early adulthood, but it can happen at any age.

Type 2 diabetes

The following risk factors may make developing type 2 diabetes more likely:

• having certain genes
• being overweight or inactive
• having a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes
• having African-American, Alaska Native, American Indian, Asian-American, Hispanic, or Pacific Islander ethnicity
• being aged over 45 years
• receiving treatment for high blood pressure, or having blood pressure of 140/90 or higher
• having low levels of “good” HDL cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides

Share on PinterestRegular blood sugar testing can help people with diabetes keep their blood sugar levels within the target level.

People who have high blood sugar should discuss their target levels with their doctor.

They may need regular testing to keep these within a healthy range. Each person is different and levels can vary between individuals.

To find out their blood sugar levels, the person may need to fast for 8 hours, 2 hours after a meal, or at both times.

Some people may also take a glucose tolerance test, in which they drink a sugary liquid and have a blood test after.

The American Diabetes Association recommend a pre-meal blood sugar level of 80–130 milligrams per deciliter (ml/dL). Around 1 to 2 hours after the beginning of a meal, blood sugar should be less than 180 ml/dL.

Managing blood sugar levels

Many people with diabetes must check their blood sugar levels daily with a glucose meter. This device takes a drop of blood, usually from a finger, and displays the sugar level within a few seconds.

People with type 1 diabetes will need to take insulin as their doctor recommends, usually several times a day.

Those with type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes may need to change their diet and exercise habits. They may also need to take oral medications or insulin.

Share on PinterestMonitoring your diet and exercise alongside blood sugar levels can help you maintain a healthy blood sugar level.

A number of strategies can help prevent hyperglycemia.

People should:

• check their blood sugar levels as their doctor advises and take the correct amount of insulin, if they have type 1 diabetes
• speak to their healthcare provider or dietitian about which foods to eat or avoid, how much to eat, and how often
• take precautions to avoid infections, for example, through regular hand washing, as illness, such as a cold, can trigger a rise in blood pressure
• plan their food intake and exercise to balance blood sugar levels
• minimize stress, as far as possible, for example, through exercise, getting enough sleep, and stress-reducing activities such as meditation or yoga

Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, can happen when a person:

• has certain medical conditions
• uses specific medications
• does a lot of exercise
• skips meals or eats too little

It can also be a side effect of diabetes medicines. Taking too much insulin can result in low blood sugar levels.

Symptoms of low blood sugar may include:

• feeling weak or shaky
• sudden nervousness, anxiety, or irritability
• sweating or chills
• extreme hunger
• confusion
• fast heart rate, or palpitations

A person can treat hypoglycemia rapidly by drinking a fruit juice or eating a glucose tablet, sugar lump, or candy.

Anyone who has frequent episodes of low blood sugar should speak to a doctor. They may recommend changing the type of dose of medication.

Anyone who experiences tiredness, increased thirst, frequent urination, or weight loss should see a doctor, as these could indicate diabetes or another health problem.

A routine health check often involves blood sugar testing, even if the person has no symptoms.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommend that adults age 40 to 70 years who are overweight have tests for diabetes.

Those with a family history of diabetes or other risk factors may need earlier or more frequent tests.

When a person has diabetes, their health and well-being depend on proper management of blood sugar levels.

To improve or maintain a good quality of life, the person should:

• visit a doctor regularly
• take medications as the doctor prescribes
• following diet and exercise guidelines

These strategies can help a person with diabetes to manage blood sugar, and this may slow the progression of diabetes.

The person should also carry a medical ID with them, especially if they use insulin, as this can provide important information in case of an emergency.

The American Diabetes Association note that IDs are now available with a compact USB drive that can contain a full medical record.

Hyperglycemia (High Blood Sugar): Symptoms, Causes, Treatments

Blood sugar control is at the center of any diabetes treatment plan. High blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, is a major concern, and can affect people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes . There are two main kinds:

• Fasting hyperglycemia. This is blood sugar for patients who have diabetesthat’s higher than 130 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) after not eating or drinking for at least 8 hours.
• Postprandial or after-meal hyperglycemia. This is blood sugar that’s higher than 180 mg/dL 2 hours after you eat. People without diabetes rarely have blood sugar levels over 140 mg/dL after a meal, unless it’s really large.

Frequent or ongoing high blood sugar can cause damage to your nerves, blood vessels, and organs. It can also lead to other serious conditions. People with type 1 diabetes are prone to a build-up of acids in the blood called ketoacidosis.

If you have type 2 diabetes or if you’re at risk for it, extremely high blood sugar can lead to a potentially deadly condition in which your body can’t process sugar. It’s called hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome (HHNS). You’ll pee more often at first, and then less often later on, but your urine may become dark and you could get severely dehydrated.

It’s important to treat symptoms of high blood sugar right away to help prevent complications.

Causes

Your blood sugar may rise if you:

• Skip or forget your insulin or oral glucose-lowering medicine
• Eat too many grams of carbohydrates for the amount of insulin you took, or eat too many carbs in general
• Have an infection
• Are ill
• Are under stress
• Become inactive or exercise less than usual
• Take part in strenuous physical activity, especially when your blood sugar levels are high and insulin levels are low

Symptoms

Early signs include:

• Thirst
• Headaches
• Trouble concentrating
• Blurred vision
• Frequent peeing
• Fatigue (weak, tired feeling)
• Weight loss
• Blood sugar more than 180 mg/dL

Ongoing high blood sugar may cause:

How Is It Treated?

If you have diabetes and notice any of the early signs of high blood sugar, test your blood sugar and call the doctor. They may ask you for the results of several readings. They could recommend the following changes:

Drink more water. Water helps remove excess sugar from your blood through urine, and it helps you avoid dehydration.

Exercise more. Working out can help lower your blood sugar. But under certain conditions, it can make blood sugar go even higher. Ask your doctor what kind of exercise is right for you.

Caution: If you have type 1 diabetes and your blood sugar is high, you need to check your urine for ketones. When you have ketones, do NOT exercise. If you have type 2 diabetes and your blood sugar is high, you must also be sure that you have no ketones in your urine and that you are well-hydrated. Then your doctor might give you the OK to exercise with caution as long as you feel up to it.

Change your eating habits. You may need to meet with a dietitian to change the amount and types of foods you eat.

Switch medications. Your doctor may change the amount, timing, or type of diabetes medications you take. Don’t make changes without talking to them first.

If you have type 1 diabetes and your blood sugar is more than 250 mg/dL, your doctor may want you to test your urine or blood for ketones.

Call your doctor if your blood sugar is running higher than your treatment goals.

How to Prevent It

If you work to keep your blood sugar under control — follow your meal plan, exercise program, and medicine schedule — you shouldn’t have to worry about hyperglycemia. You can also:

• Know your diet — count the total amounts of carbs in each meal and snack.
• Test your blood sugar regularly.
• Tell your doctor if you have repeated abnormal blood sugar readings.
• Wear medical identification to let people know you have diabetes in case of an emergency.

Causes, Symptoms, Treatments & Prevention

Overview

What is hyperglycemia?

Hyperglycemia, or high blood glucose, occurs when there is too much sugar in the blood. This happens when your body has too little insulin (the hormone that transports glucose into the blood), or if your body can’t use insulin properly. The condition is most often linked with diabetes.

Hyperglycemia is blood glucose greater than 125 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) while fasting (not eating for at least eight hours; a person with a fasting blood glucose greater than 125 mg/dL has diabetes).

• A person has impaired glucose tolerance, or pre-diabetes, with a fasting blood glucose of 100 mg/dL to 125 mg/dL.
• A person has hyperglycemia if their blood glucose is greater than 180 mg/dL one to two hours after eating.

If you have hyperglycemia and it’s untreated for long periods of time, you can damage your nerves, blood vessels, tissues and organs. Damage to blood vessels can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke, and nerve damage may also lead to eye damage, kidney damage and non-healing wounds.

What are risk factors for hyperglycemia?

Major risk factors for hyperglycemia are:

• You have a family history of type 2 diabetes.
• You are African American, Native American, Hispanic or Asian American.
• You are overweight.
• You have high blood pressure or cholesterol.
• You have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
• You have a history of gestational diabetes.

Symptoms and Causes

What causes hyperglycemia in people with diabetes?

• The dose of insulin or oral diabetes medication that you are taking is not the most helpful dose for your needs.
• Your body isn’t using your natural insulin effectively (type 2 diabetes).
• The amount of carbohydrates you are eating or drinking is not balanced with the amount of insulin your body is able to make or the amount of insulin you inject.
• You are less active than usual.
• Physical stress (from illness, a cold, the flu, an infection, etc.) is affecting you.
• Emotional stress (from family conflicts, emotional problems, school or work stresses, etc.) is affecting you.
• You are taking steroids for another condition.
• The dawn phenomenon (a surge of hormones the body produces every morning around 4 am to 5 a.m.) is affecting you.

Other possible causes

• Endocrine conditions, such as Cushing syndrome, that cause insulin resistance.
• Pancreatic diseases such as pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer and cystic fibrosis.
• Certain medications (such as diuretics and steroids).
• Gestational diabetes, which happens in 4% of pregnancies, and is due to decreased insulin sensitivity.
• Surgery or trauma.

What are the symptoms of hyperglycemia?

It’s especially important to know the early signs of hyperglycemia if you have type 1 diabetes. If hyperglycemia is left untreated in people with type 1 diabetes, it can develop into ketoacidosis, where ketones, which are toxic acids, build up in the blood. This condition is an emergency situation that can lead to coma or death.

Early symptoms of hyperglycemia include:

• High blood sugar.
• Increased thirst and/or hunger.
• Blurred vision.
• Frequent urination (peeing).
• Headache.

Additional symptoms include:

• Fatigue (feeling weak, tired).
• Weight loss.
• Vaginal and skin infections.
• Slow-healing cuts and sores.

Symptoms of ketoacidosis are:

• Vomiting.
• Dehydration.
• Unusual fruity smell on the breath.
• Deep labored breathing or hyperventilation.
• Rapid heartbeat.
• Confusion and disorientation.
• Coma.

Management and Treatment

How can I treat and manage hyperglycemia?

People with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can manage hyperglycemia by eating healthy, being active, and managing stress. In addition, insulin is a critical part of managing hyperglycemia for people with type 1 diabetes, while people with type 2 diabetes may need oral medications and eventually insulin to help them manage hyperglycemia.

If you don’t have diabetes and have any of the signs and symptoms of hyperglycemia, call your healthcare provider. Together you can work to manage your hyperglycemia.

Prevention

How do I prevent hyperglycemia?

• Exercise to help lower blood sugar. Work with your healthcare provider to make a daily activity plan.
• Follow your meal plan if you have one. Learn how carbohydrates impact your blood sugar, and work with your diabetes care team to find the best meal plan for you.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Don’t smoke.
• Limit drinking alcohol. Alcohol can raise blood sugar levels, but can also cause dangerously low blood sugar levels. Work with your provider to determine how much is safe to drink.

What Causes Blood Sugar to Rise in Non-Diabetics?

High blood sugar or glucose, also called hyperglycemia, occurs when there is too much sugar in the blood. High blood sugar is the primary symptom that underlies diabetes, but it can also occur in people who don’t have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, either because of stress or trauma, or gradually as a result of certain chronic conditions.

It is important to manage high blood sugar, even if you don’t have diabetes, because elevated blood glucose can delay your ability to heal, increase your risk of infections, and cause irreversible damage to your nerves, blood vessels, and organs, such as your eyes and kidneys. Blood vessel damage from high blood sugar also increases your risk of heart attack and stroke.

BakiBG / Getty Images

Non-Diabetic Hyperglycemia and Prediabetes

You are considered to have impaired glucose tolerance or prediabetes if you have a fasting glucose level between 100–125 mg/dL, and hyperglycemia if your fasting blood glucose level is greater than 125 mg/dL, or greater than 180 mg/dL one to two hours after eating.

The body obtains glucose mainly through carbohydrate consumption, but also through the breakdown of glycogen to glucose—a process called glycogenolysis—or conversion of non-carbohydrate sources to glucose—called gluconeogenesis—that primarily occurs in the liver.

While 50% to 80% of glucose is used by the brain, kidneys, and red blood cells for energy, the remaining supply of glucose is used to produce energy. It is stored as glycogen in the liver and muscles, and can be tapped into at a later time for energy or converted into fat tissue.

In healthy people, blood glucose levels are regulated by the hormone insulin to stay at a steady level of 80–100 mg/dL. Insulin maintains steady blood sugar by increasing the uptake and storage of glucose and decreasing inflammatory proteins that raise blood sugar when there is an excess of glucose in the blood.

Certain conditions can increase your blood glucose levels by impairing the ability of insulin to transport glucose out of the bloodstream. When this occurs, you develop hyperglycemia, which puts you at an increased risk of prediabetes, diabetes, and related complications.

Common Causes

Cushing’s Syndrome

Cushing’s syndrome results from excess secretion of the adrenocorticotropic hormone, a hormone produced in the anterior portion of the pituitary gland that causes excess cortisol to be produced and released from the adrenal glands. Pituitary adenomas, or tumors of the pituitary gland, are the cause of Cushing’s syndrome in more than 70% of cases, while prolonged use of corticosteroid medication can also significantly increase the risk.

People with Cushing’s syndrome are at an increased risk of developing impaired glucose tolerance and hyperglycemia as a result of increased levels of cortisol throughout the body. Cortisol is a hormone that counteracts the effects of insulin by blocking the uptake of glucose from the bloodstream, thereby increasing insulin resistance and maintaining high blood sugar levels. Elevated cortisol levels also partially decrease the release of insulin from where it is produced in the pancreas.

Approximately 10% to 30% of people with Cushing’s syndrome will develop impaired glucose tolerance, while 40% to 45% will develop diabetes.

Corticosteroid medication is often prescribed to decrease inflammation throughout the body, but can lead to the development of Cushing’s syndrome and hyperglycemia because it activates specific enzymes that increase the conversion of non-carbohydrate molecules into glucose (gluconeogenesis). Corticosteroids also disrupt pancreatic cell function by inhibiting cell signaling pathways involved in the release of insulin from the pancreas.

Pancreatic Diseases

Pancreatic diseases such as pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and cystic fibrosis can cause hyperglycemia as pancreas cells are damaged in these conditions. Insulin is produced and released from the cells of the pancreas. With inflammation and damage to the pancreas, pancreatic cells are no longer able to produce enough insulin to remove glucose from the blood to control blood sugar.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), characterized by irregular menstrual periods, is a common endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age. Women with PCOS have hormonal imbalances, such as increased levels of testosterone, insulin, and inflammatory proteins called cytokines released from fat tissue.

Despite increased levels of insulin, women with PCOS exhibit insulin resistance since their insulin hormones cannot adequately uptake glucose or utilize it for energy. Insulin receptors in women with PCOS cannot efficiently bind to insulin. Because insulin transports glucose, excess glucose remains in the bloodstream, producing hyperglycemia.

Trauma 

Physical stress to the body, including trauma, burns, and other injuries, can cause high blood sugar by altering the way glucose is metabolized. Stress-induced hyperglycemia results when physical stressors to the body stimulate increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system, the body’s fight-or-flight response, to release cytokines and hormones that counteract the effects of insulin in removing excess glucose from the bloodstream.

These cytokines and hormones like epinephrine increase the production of glucose through the breakdown of glycogen stores into glucose (glycogenolysis) and conversion of non-carbohydrate sources into glucose (gluconeogenesis).

Increased levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which is also released, block the effects of insulin from taking glucose from the bloodstream into cells, further contributing to high blood sugar.

Surgery and Stress

Alterations to glucose metabolism that occur from physical stress to the body also occur after surgery. Surgery is a controlled form of stress to the body that results in similar increases in cytokines and hormones that drive the production of glucose in the liver and block the effects of insulin from removing excess glucose from the blood.

Up to 30% of patients can develop stress-induced hyperglycemia after surgery, with blood glucose levels that stay elevated long after returning home from the hospital. Elevated blood sugar after surgery can have significant effects on overall health, and increases the risk of developing diabetes and other serious conditions.

Infections 

Stress-induced hyperglycemia can also result from the physical stress of having an infection, such as pneumonia or urinary tract infections. Increased levels of the stress hormone cortisol that occurs with infections block the ability of insulin to remove excess glucose from the bloodstream, keeping the body in a state of high blood sugar.

High blood glucose also results from infections as a normal reaction in order to support the needs of organs like the brain, kidneys, and red blood cells that depend on glucose for energy to aid in the immune system’s response to fight off an infection.

Medication Side Effects

Certain medications—such as catecholamine vasopressors like dopamine and norepinephrine, immunosuppressants like tacrolimus and cyclosporine, and corticosteroids—can increase blood glucose levels by activating enzymes that increase blood glucose levels and disrupting the release and activity of insulin to uptake glucose from the blood.

Hospitalized patients receiving nutrition through an IV may also be at an increased risk of developing hyperglycemia, as the nutritional fluid contains a sugar solution to help restore electrolyte balance. The concentration of this fluid should be carefully monitored in patients who are ill or recovering from surgery or injury in order to prevent further spikes in blood sugar.

Obesity

High blood sugar is associated with obesity since excess fat cells disrupt the balance of glucose and insulin. Excess fat cells called adipocytes release inflammatory proteins, such as interleukins and tumor necrosis factor, which increase the body’s resistance to insulin by activating processes that disrupt the body’s ability to produce and release insulin when blood sugar is high.

Excess fat cells also decrease the ability to remove glucose from the blood to be used for energy or stored as glycogen within skeletal muscles. With obesity, increased lipids, or fatty acid molecules, activate pathways that impair insulin signaling within muscles.

Genetics

A family history of diabetes can increase your risk of developing hyperglycemia. While diabetes can be prevented through diet and lifestyle factors, impaired insulin sensitivity can run in families and may make you more prone to developing high blood sugar.

Pregnant women can also develop gestational diabetes, often between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, due to hormonal changes that affect the way that glucose is metabolized in the body. The influence of pregnancy hormones can interfere with the ability of insulin to remove excess glucose from the blood, causing blood sugar to stay elevated.

Lifestyle Risk Factors 

Diet

Diet plays a significant role in the development of high blood sugar. Excess consumption of sugar- and carbohydrate-containing foods raise blood sugar levels after eating as the food is broken down into glucose molecules that enter the bloodstream.

In a healthy person, the presence of more glucose molecules in the blood signals the pancreas to release insulin, which helps uptake glucose from the blood and transports it to the muscles and liver to be used for energy and storage. As blood sugar decreases, the signals to the pancreas to release more insulin stop, and blood sugar levels should return to a stable baseline.

When levels of blood sugar continually become elevated with repeat and excessive sugar and carbohydrate consumption, the excess glucose in the bloodstream stimulates the pancreas to release a lot of insulin. Over time, the body stops responding to insulin due to chronic high blood sugar, causing insulin resistance and keeping blood sugar high.

Managing a healthy and balanced diet with proteins, fats, and fiber-rich foods while limiting sugar and processed and refined carbohydrates can help control blood sugar levels.

Excess alcohol consumption can also affect your blood sugar by interfering with your liver’s ability to regulate the production and release of glucose and negatively impact your body’s response to insulin.

Lack of Physical Activity

Lack of physical activity can increase your blood sugar, as skeletal muscles are a main part of the body that uses glucose for energy or stores extra glucose as glycogen for later use. With low levels of physical activity, the muscles become inactive and do not remove glucose efficiently from the blood.

Regular exercise can help lower blood sugar levels by increasing the need for muscles to remove glucose from the blood to use for energy.

A Word From Verywell

High blood sugar can result from a variety of causes, not just diabetes. You do not have to live with diabetes to develop hyperglycemia. Having high blood sugar can increase your risk of developing diabetes and related complications later on. 

A variety of factors can contribute to high blood sugar, and some of them like diet and exercise can help keep your blood glucose in check. Sometimes high blood sugar in people without diabetes could be due to prediabetes, which could lead to the development of diabetes. If you have high blood sugar often, it’s important to check with your doctor and monitor it.

10 Everyday Things That Spike Blood Sugar

If you’re living with type 2 diabetes, your doctor has probably told you time and time again that maintaining control over your blood sugar is essential.

“Controlling blood sugar is important for two main reasons,” says Lynn Grieger, RD, CDCES, a certified personal trainer in Prescott, Arizona, and a medical reviewer for Everyday Health. “On a day-to-day basis, people just feel better when their blood sugar stays in a healthy range. Over the long term, it’s the best thing you can do to prevent complications of diabetes from occurring.” Diabetes complications include nerve damage, kidney disease, skin conditions, eye damage, heart disease, and stroke, according to the American Diabetes Association.

One of the main and most frequently discussed contributors to high blood sugar is a diet too rich in carbohydrates, which once digested turn into sugar (glucose). Certain high-carb foods (for example, white bread, white-flour pasta, sugary drinks, and french fries) are among the most common foods that spike blood sugar, she explains.

RELATED: 10 Foods to Avoid When You Have Type 2 Diabetes

“Many people with diabetes also get into trouble with processed foods, which have added sugars they may not know about,” says Gregory Dodell, MD, an assistant clinical professor of endocrinology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. The good news is that by sticking to a diabetes-friendly diet, incorporating physical activity into your day, taking medication (if recommended by your doctor), and regularly monitoring your blood sugar levels, you can gain better control over type 2 diabetes.

There are some triggers of high blood sugar, however, that are out of your control or can sneak up on you. Such triggers can make it difficult to manage blood sugar levels even when you think you’re doing everything right.

Here are 10 surprising yet common causes of high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia.

Hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar) – NHS

Hyperglycaemia is the medical term for a high blood sugar (glucose) level. It’s a common problem for people with diabetes.

It can affect people with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes, as well as pregnant women with gestational diabetes.

It can occasionally affect people who do not have diabetes, but usually only people who are seriously ill, such as those who have recently had a stroke or heart attack, or have a severe infection.

Hyperglycaemia should not be confused with hypoglycaemia, which is when a person’s blood sugar level drops too low.

This information focuses on hyperglycaemia in people with diabetes.

Is hyperglycaemia serious?

The aim of diabetes treatment is to keep blood sugar levels as near to normal as possible.

But if you have diabetes, no matter how careful you are, you’re likely to experience hyperglycaemia at some point.

It’s important to be able to recognise and treat hyperglycaemia, as it can lead to serious health problems if left untreated.

Occasional mild episodes are not usually a cause for concern and can be treated quite easily or may return to normal on their own.

But hyperglycaemia can be potentially dangerous if blood sugar levels become very high or stay high for long periods.

Very high blood sugar levels can cause life-threatening complications, such as:

Regularly having high blood sugar levels for long periods of time (over months or years) can result in permanent damage to parts of the body such as the eyes, nerves, kidneys and blood vessels.

If you experience hyperglycaemia regularly, speak to your doctor or diabetes care team.

You may need to change your treatment or lifestyle to keep your blood sugar levels within a healthy range.

Symptoms of hyperglycaemia

Symptoms of hyperglycaemia in people with diabetes tend to develop slowly over a few days or weeks.

In some cases, there may be no symptoms until the blood sugar level is very high.

Symptoms of hyperglycaemia include:

Symptoms of hyperglycaemia can also be caused by undiagnosed diabetes, so see a GP if this applies to you. You can have a test to check for the condition.

What should my blood sugar level be?

When you’re first diagnosed with diabetes, your diabetes care team will usually tell you what your blood sugar level is and what you should aim to get it down to.

You may be advised to use a testing device to monitor your blood sugar level regularly at home.

Or you may have an appointment with a nurse or doctor every few months to see what your average blood sugar level is. This is known as your HbA1c level.

Target blood sugar levels differ for everyone, but generally speaking:

• if you monitor yourself at home with a self-testing kit – a normal target is 4 to 7mmol/l before eating and under 8.5 to 9mmol/l 2 hours after a meal
• if your HbA1c level is tested every few months – a normal HbA1c target is below 48mmol/mol (or 6.5% on the older measurement scale)

The Diabetes UK website has more about blood sugar levels and testing.

What causes high blood sugar?

A variety of things can trigger an increase in blood sugar level in people with diabetes, including:

• stress
• an illness, such as a cold
• eating too much, such as snacking between meals
• a lack of exercise
• missing a dose of your diabetes medicine or taking an incorrect dose
• overtreating an episode of low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)
• taking certain medicines, such as steroids

Occasional episodes of hyperglycaemia can also occur in children and young adults during growth spurts.

Treating hyperglycaemia

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes and have symptoms of hyperglycaemia, follow the advice your care team has given you to reduce your blood sugar level.

If you’re not sure what to do, contact a GP or your care team.

You may be advised to:

• change your diet – for example, you may be advised to avoid foods that cause your blood sugar levels to rise, such as cakes or sugary drinks
• drink plenty of sugar-free fluids – this can help if you’re dehydrated
• exercise more often – gentle, regular exercise such as walking can often lower your blood sugar level, particularly if it helps you lose weight
• if you use insulin, adjust your dose – your care team can give you specific advice about how to do this

You may also be advised to monitor your blood sugar level more closely, or test your blood or urine for substances called ketones (associated with diabetic ketoacidosis).

Until your blood sugar level is back under control, watch out for additional symptoms that could be a sign of a more serious condition.

When to get urgent medical attention

Contact your diabetes care team immediately if you have a high blood sugar level and experience the following symptoms:

These symptoms could be a sign of a more serious complication of hyperglycaemia, such as diabetic ketoacidosis or a hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state, and you may need to be looked after in hospital.

How to prevent hyperglycaemia

There are simple ways to reduce your risk of severe or prolonged hyperglycaemia:

• Be careful what you eat – be particularly aware of how snacking and eating sugary foods or carbohydrates can affect your blood sugar level.
• Stick to your treatment plan – remember to take your insulin or other diabetes medications as recommended by your care team.
• Be as active as possible – getting regular exercise can help stop your blood sugar level rising, but you should check with your doctor first if you’re taking diabetes medication, as some medicines can lead to hypoglycaemia if you exercise too much.
• Take extra care when you’re ill – your care team can provide you with some “sick day rules” that outline what you can do to keep your blood sugar level under control during an illness.
• Monitor your blood sugar level – your care team may suggest using a device to check your level at home so you can spot an increase early and take steps to stop it.

Page last reviewed: 08 August 2018
Next review due: 08 August 2021

90,000 Arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus

• heart
• kidneys
• cerebral vessels
• retinal vessels

The main causes of high disability and mortality in hypertensive patients with concomitant diabetes mellitus are:

• IBS
• acute myocardial infarction
• cerebrovascular accident
• end-stage renal failure

The combination of hypertension and diabetes mellitus increases the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, renal failure by 2-3 times.Therefore, it is extremely important to early recognize and diagnose both arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus in order to prescribe appropriate treatment in time and stop the development of severe vascular complications.

The pathogenesis of many forms of arterial hypertension is based on insulin resistance – a violation of the body’s response to endogenous or exogenous insulin. As a result, glucose uptake by peripheral tissues decreases. This condition more often occurs in overweight individuals and may not manifest itself clearly before the onset of metabolic disorders.When the BMI (ideal body weight) is exceeded by 35-40%, insulin sensitivity decreases by 40%. At the ionic level, insulin affects the flow of calcium and sodium into the cell, which affects the contractility of vascular smooth muscle fibers. As a result of a decrease in insulin sensitivity, the flow of calcium into the cell increases and the tension of smooth muscle cells increases. In such patients, the reaction of the coronary arteries to physiological stimuli decreases (the ability to dilate), which leads to a violation of microcirculation.

In high concentrations, glucose has a direct toxic effect on the vascular endothelium, which in turn causes an increase in muscle spasm, hyperplasia of smooth muscle fibers and leads to the development of atherosclerosis. There is also an inverse relationship, according to which arterial hypertension leads to the appearance of insulin resistance. The main thing in this mechanism is the closure of small capillaries and a decrease in blood flow in skeletal muscles, which helps to reduce their utilization of glucose, that is, insulin resistance of muscle tissue.

Arterial hypertension is one of the risk factors for the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus and, in combination with overweight, impaired lipid metabolism, impaired carbohydrate tolerance, can lead to this disease in 40% of cases and subsequently significantly increase the number of cardiovascular and renal complications. It is possible to prevent the development of complications of these two formidable diseases by influencing risk factors and following recommendations for a healthy lifestyle: normalizing body weight, limiting salt intake to 3 g / day., smoking cessation, pay attention to physical exercise (brisk walking – 30 minutes a day, swimming – up to 1 hour 3 times a week), the regular use of which has a beneficial effect on insulin sensitivity, blood pressure and lipid metabolism. However, it should be borne in mind that excessive physical activity can increase the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), especially in combination with alcohol intake.

During treatment, it is necessary to constantly monitor the development of both diseases and strive to achieve the target blood pressure and blood glucose levels, which can significantly reduce the risk of complications.With a combination of diabetes mellitus and hypertension, the target blood pressure level is less than 130/85 mm Hg, the blood (plasma) glucose level is 3.33-6.1 mmol / l.

Measurement of blood pressure in the doctor’s office often gives elevated readings – this is the so-called white coat hypertension, that is, a short-term increase in the patient’s blood pressure due to worries about a visit to the doctor. Controlling blood pressure at home helps to obtain more realistic blood pressure values. Do not forget about choosing a device for self-monitoring.Leading experts recommend the use of automatic blood pressure monitors with modern technology, which guarantees a reliable result. For monitoring blood glucose levels at home, portable blood glucose meters are ideal, which allow you to get a quick, accurate result.

It must be remembered that self-monitoring must be regular, its results must be recorded in a special diary and provided to your doctor in order to monitor the effectiveness of the prescribed treatment.

Diabetes mellitus questions and answers

1. Can you get diabetes?

– No. Diabetes mellitus is not contagious. Diabetes is not transmitted by contact with a sick person, either sexually or by airborne droplets. This is out of the question.

2. What is the glycemic index?

– This is an indicator of how quickly and how the blood sugar level changes after eating a particular food.The glycemic index of pure glucose is taken as 100. A low glycemic index of a product indicates that after consumption, the blood sugar level rises slowly, and vice versa.

3. Which foods have the highest and lowest glycemic index?

– Foods with a high GI (90 and above) – sugar, dates, potatoes, semolina. Low GI foods (30 and below) – leafy vegetables, table greens, avocados, tofu (bean curd).

4.If there is a lot of sweets, are you sure to get diabetes? Does it make sense to prohibit sweets for children?

– No. The consumption of sweets, even in large quantities, is not the main cause of this disease. In order for diabetes to develop, a combination of factors is necessary (hereditary predisposition, overweight, low physical activity, severe stress). You should not completely abandon sweets, but it will not hurt to reasonably limit their use.As for children, confectionery should be given strictly after the main meal.

5. I have type II diabetes. Will my children definitely inherit it?

– No. The likelihood of developing diabetes is 10-30%. It can be reduced to 0% if you follow the rules of a healthy lifestyle (following a balanced diet, regular physical activity, control of body weight).

6. I have type II diabetes and love sweet tea and coffee. I use aspartame-based sweetener tablets.How many tablets can be consumed per day without harm to the body?

– Aspartame, along with saccharin, cyclamate, acesulfame, belongs to synthetic sweeteners. Tablet formulations of sweeteners are usually made from a mixture of these ingredients. It is advisable to completely abandon their use, giving preference to natural sweeteners such as fructose, xylitol, sorbitol, stevioside.

7. I was diagnosed with type II diabetes. Really now all your life you have to take medicine by the hour, limit yourself in everything tasty? What will happen if I continue to live as before?

– The main thing in the treatment of diabetes is lifestyle changes (balanced diet, sufficient physical activity, normalization of body weight).If these measures do not give the expected result (the sugar level does not return to normal), then medications are prescribed, which must be taken regularly. It is possible that over time the dosage of these drugs will be reduced or canceled. If you continue to live without changing anything, sugar by itself will not decrease, there will be constant hyperglycemia (increased blood sugar level), and this leads to damage to the nerve endings and blood vessels of the eyes (leads to blindness), stops (up to gangrene and amputation) …

8. In type II diabetes, what is more important – to lose weight or stop eating sweets?

– The importance of weight loss and restricting simple carbohydrates is about the same. These are equally necessary measures.

9. Why is it recommended to give up honey in case of diabetes? After all, honey is not glucose, which is dangerous in diabetes, but fructose?

– Honey should not be consumed with diabetes, it consists of glucose and fructose in approximately equal proportions, and, the level of glycemia (blood sugar) is affected in the same way as pure sugar.

10. I know glucose is brain food. Will my intellectual capacity decrease if I quit sugar?

– Indeed, glucose is an energy substrate for the brain. In diabetes mellitus, you should limit simple carbohydrates, including sugar, and other foods with a high glycemic index. It is necessary to consume a sufficient amount of complex carbohydrates, during the breakdown of which glucose is formed, which serves as food for the brain. Intellect will remain intact, you will not “get stupid”, but with prolonged carbohydrate starvation, mental performance may decrease slightly.

11. I heard that buckwheat helps to lower blood sugar. Is it so?

– Buckwheat is a high carbohydrate product with a low glycemic index. The carbohydrates contained in it are good, “slow”, that is, when buckwheat is consumed, the blood sugar level rises smoothly, gradually. Buckwheat is the most preferred cereal for constant use in diabetes mellitus.

12. I have had hypertension for 2 years.A month ago, she was diagnosed with type II diabetes. How do I properly control my blood sugar?

You must have a glucometer (a device for measuring blood sugar), a tonometer (a device for measuring blood pressure) and a diary to keep track of your measurements. In the morning, on an empty stomach, the level of sugar, blood pressure is measured, then medications are taken, then breakfast and recording of measurement data and the breakfast menu. Throughout the day, take sugar measurements 2 hours after each meal, fixing your menu.If blood sugar has stabilized, then the drug and dosage are selected correctly, the diet is followed. In this case, the number of measurements can be reduced, but the morning glycemic control can be continued. Three months after the start of antihyperglycemic therapy, make an analysis for glycated hemoglobin, which will show the average blood sugar value over the past 3 months.

13. I have had diabetes for 15 years. Recently, cracks on the heels that do not heal for a long time have bothered me, ointments do not help.Who should I contact?

– First of all, visit your supervising endocrinologist. The formation of a “diabetic foot” may indicate the need for correcting the antihyperglycemic treatment. You should take care of your feet in the medical pedicure office once a month.

14. I was diagnosed with diabetes. The family doctor said that a diet should be followed. I would like to know more about this.

– Consult your dietitian for detailed nutritional advice.The general rules of nutrition for diabetes are as follows: restriction of simple, “fast” carbohydrates (sugar, honey, jam, sweets, white flour baked goods, potatoes, rice), an increase in the proportion of slow carbohydrates in the diet, which are found in fiber-rich vegetables, herbs, unpeeled cereals. You can eat fish, chicken and turkey without skin, lean beef, cottage cheese and cheeses with a fat content of no more than 3 percent. Lamb, offal (liver, hearts, kidneys), fatty poultry (duck, goose, sausages and sausages) are limited. Fruits – no more than 2 pieces per day.Fruits that are too sweet, such as bananas, mangoes, grapes, are excluded.

Medical prophylaxis office
GBUZ “Bryukhovetskaya CRH” MH KK

Diabetes school – How to manage diabetes during illness?

What happens when people living with diabetes get sick? *

When people living with diabetes get sick, their bodies respond by releasing hormones to fight the disease. The release of these hormones can be triggered by various conditions, for example, infectious diseases, cardiovascular ischemic events, gastroenteritis, dehydration, etc.etc.

The hormones that are released during illness can raise blood sugar levels while preventing insulin from lowering it. In people living with diabetes, even a mild illness can lead to dangerously high blood sugar levels. This can lead to life-threatening complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic conditions.

Diseases that most often lead to high blood sugar levels:

(Especially if these conditions are accompanied by fever or fever)

Starting cortisol or increasing the dose of cortisol taken also has a significant effect on blood sugar levels.

People living with diabetes, as well as carers and parents of children living with diabetes, should work with their healthcare team in advance to develop a contingency plan.

During illness, an additional dose of insulin may be required because blood sugar levels can rise even if the patient is unable to eat or drink.

• Blood sugar level greater than 15 mmol / L (270 mg / dL)
• Ketones in urine
• Thirst

Get immediate help if:

• You are vomiting
• You began to breathe often, and from the mouth “fruit” smell
• Abdominal pain has occurred
• Confused consciousness (lethargy, drowsiness)

When should I see a doctor?

People living with diabetes should see a specialist:

• If they are not sure what to do in the current situation
• If you vomit out several times in a row (it is impossible to hold food and liquid for more than 6 hours), as they may quickly develop dehydration
• If their blood sugar remains high for more than 24 hours
• If they develop symptoms consistent with their onset of diabetic ketoacidosis

General guidelines for diabetes management during illness

If a person with diabetes becomes ill, the following steps must be followed, even if the blood sugar is within the target values:

• Take your diabetes medications as usual. Insulin should not be discontinued under any circumstances
• Check blood sugar every 4 hours, record results
• Drink plenty of (zero-calorie) fluids * and try to eat as usual.
• Measure your weight daily. Weight loss with a normal diet is a sign of high blood sugar
• Measure your body temperature every morning and evening. Fever may be a sign of infection

* Drink plenty of fluids – 120 to 180 ml every half hour to prevent dehydration.You may also need to drink a sugar drink if you can’t eat 50 grams of carbs from your food. The amount of beverages containing sugar, however, must be controlled to prevent unnecessary increases in blood sugar levels.

Recommendations for people with type 1 diabetes

During the period of illness:

• Insulin should not be discontinued under any circumstances
• Increase in insulin dose may be required and additional doses of short-acting insulin may be required to lower blood sugar
• Blood sugar should be monitored at least every 4 hours.
• You need to drink enough unsweetened drinks.
• Ideal blood sugar should be 6-10 mmol / L (110-180 mg / dL)

If your blood sugar reaches the following values ​​at any time:

All people with type 1 diabetes should have blood sugar strips at home and, if possible, test strips to measure blood and urine ketones in case of illness or other situations in which blood sugar rises.If the ketone test is positive, you must go to the hospital.

Recommendations for changing the insulin dose on the basal-bolus therapy regimen for patients with type 1 diabetes

• Measure blood sugar and ketones (especially if blood sugar> 15 mmol / L [270 mg / dL]) every 4 hours, day and night. If at any time the level of ketones is above 3 mmol / L, go to the hospital immediately; may require intravenous (IV) insulin and fluids.
• The Total Daily Dose (TDD) formula helps determine how much a person needs to increase their fast or short insulin dose.
  • Add the number of units (U) of insulin (all types) that the person injects daily. (Use original or usual dosages.) TDD = ___ UNITS
  • Calculate 10% ___ 15% ___ 20% ___ of TDD. This is an extra dose.
  • Follow the table below to determine how much fast / short insulin to give every 4 hours in addition to the usual starting dosages.If necessary, give insulin every 4 hours according to the table below.
  • If you cannot eat as usual, replace regular carbohydrates with a liquid containing sugar.

Insulin dose adjustments for people using an insulin pump

* This is a “false” bolus that is required for the pump to calculate the amount of insulin charged

Advice for people living with type 2 diabetes

People living with type 2 diabetes should be monitored for any of the following symptoms, which may indicate high blood sugar:

• Thirst / dry mouth
• Frequent or profuse urination (may lead to dehydration)
• Fatigue
• Weight loss

Recommendations for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus on tablets:

If a person with type 2 diabetes is taking metformin tablets, they may need to be stopped temporarily.Typically, this recommendation is advisable for severe infection or dehydration.

If it is necessary to stop taking metformin, alternative treatment should be prescribed for the period until metformin can not be resumed (this measure may include both other antidiabetic pills and, in some cases, insulin, depending on the individual level of elevated blood sugar).

People on other oral antidiabetic drugs may be provided with blood sugar measurement equipment to make sure their blood sugar does not drop too much (hypoglycemia) and to routinely manage their diabetes.These people do not need frequent monitoring of their blood sugar levels. During illness, blood sugar usually rises. People with type 2 diabetes should use blood sugar measurements to keep their blood sugar levels between 6 and 10 mmol / L (110 and 180 mg / dL). They may need at least 2 blood sugar measurements per day.

Recommendations for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus on insulin:

People with type 2 diabetes mellitus on insulin should be provided with blood sugar meters at home.The goal is to maintain blood sugar levels between 6 and 10 mmol / L [110 and 180 mg / dL].

• If blood sugar remains above 10 mmol / L [180 mg / dL], increase your insulin dose. Additional blood sugar measurements are often required. Measurements should be taken every 4 hours, especially if the blood sugar is high (15 mmol / L [270 mg / dL]).

• Ketones: If your blood sugar is high (15 mmol / L [270 mg / dL]), it may be necessary to test for ketones in the urine.If it is positive, you need to see a doctor.

Take care of yourself, know and apply the rules in case of illness!

90,000 Can stress cause high blood sugar?

Emotional stress can cause high blood sugar

Many people know about physical stress (illness, injury, surgery) and how to deal with it. Emotional stress is harder to detect and therefore more difficult to manage.Feelings such as fear, anxiety, anger and excitement cause the body to release stress hormones into the bloodstream to help the body prepare for the so-called “fight-or-flight” response. When the body is under stress, the adrenal glands enlarge and release two hormones: adrenaline and norepinephrine. While the main role of norepinephrine is to prevent a drop in blood pressure, epinephrine is an important substance in regulating blood glucose ¹ .Raising blood sugar is important in stressful situations as the body prepares itself for great physical and mental stress. This is assisted by the release of adrenaline, which, in combination with high blood pressure, ensures the supply of oxygen and glucose to all parts of the body2.

In people without diabetes, the body produces insulin to lower high blood glucose levels. However, in people with diabetes, stress can raise blood sugar levels for days, weeks, or months.

Look for patterns

Anxious moments and nervous situations happen to everyone. Naturally, different events or actions cause different reactions in each person. What bothers you greatly may not have any effect on the other. The main thing is to look for patterns, what exactly can cause an increase in blood glucose levels in a particular situation? Try to write down all the situations where your blood glucose levels are high due to emotional stress, and then analyze the reasons and find out if there is a specific situation, feeling, or even person that may explain the high values.

3 Steps to Know If Stress Affects Blood Sugar

• Step 1. Rate your stress level on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest. Write down the stress level along with the situation and feelings.
• Step 2. Check your blood glucose and record your result.
• Step 3. After a week or two, review your results to see if there is any pattern between stress and blood sugar.

Triggers can be devious

Life-changing situations or major problems are obvious stress triggers. But it can be more difficult to determine if the cause is in the accumulation of many smaller troubles. If you have too many events happening in your life, it does not mean that you are under stress. On the contrary, a lack of work, occupation, or life changes are all factors that can cause stress, as well as constant anxiety or feeling like you cannot control the situation ³ .

3 ways to reduce mental stress ³

• Learn to relax during stressful moments using breathing exercises.
• Review your schedule to find out how to unload and reduce stress.
• Exercise regularly and take outdoor walks. Try to be in nature more often, take up your favorite hobbies, this usually has a calming effect on the body and soul.

It is important to understand what stress is and how it affects your body. You can better manage diabetes by identifying and actively implementing healthy ways to cope with stressful situations.

Sources
1. Glucerna. How Stress Affects Blood Sugar Levels 2020. Abbott Laboratories. https://glucerna.com/why-glucerna/how-stress-affects-blood-sugar-levels
2. Diabetes UK. Stress And Blood Glucose-Levels. 2019. Diabetes Digital Media.https://www.diabetes.co.uk/stress-and-blood-glucose-levels.html
3. Mind Organization. Stress. 1st ed. [ebook] London: Mind publications, p.1-15. 2017.https: //www.mind.org.uk/media-a/2959/stress-2017.pdf

90,000 How Blood Sugar Affects Well-Being – Wonderzine

Why “high” sugar is dangerous

Eating any food, not only sweet, increases the concentration of glucose in the blood. Normally, its level is from 3.3 to 5.5 mmol / l (when analyzing blood from a finger) and from 4 to 6.1 mmol / l (if blood is taken from a vein).These indicators change throughout the day: for example, as soon as we eat a high-carbohydrate food – say, a bun – the glucose level can rise to 10 mmol / L in just twenty minutes. There is no danger to health in this: this is the so-called alimentary, or associated with food intake, hyperglycemia – a temporary increase in blood glucose. With proper functioning of the pancreas and liver, the indicators will return to normal after a while.

If the increase in glucose levels occurs more frequently and becomes chronic, then type 2 diabetes mellitus may develop.This is a serious disease – it leads to disturbances in the functioning of the heart and blood vessels, kidneys, eyes and other organs. Too high blood sugar levels are very dangerous in early pregnancy – they dramatically increase the risk of congenital heart disease in a baby. Thirst, frequent trips to the toilet “small”, heart problems, leg cramps, itchy skin, headache or dizziness, fatigue, blurred vision (“fog” in front of the eyes) – a set of symptoms that indicate an excess of glucose in the blood is wide enough.

On the other hand, sugar is indispensable. More than half of the glucose is used to meet the body’s energy needs. The rest is used to build various structures – cell membranes, enzymes, components of the immune system – and is stored in the muscles and liver. A blood glucose level below normal is called hypoglycemia – it can manifest as weakness or light-headedness. With mild hypoglycemia, it is enough to drink a cup of sweet tea. In more severe cases, fainting or even hypoglycemic coma may occur, requiring urgent medical attention.

It is not uncommon for people to experience hypoglycemia during exercise – for example, if a person decides to exercise in the morning when their blood sugar is low and has forgotten to have breakfast beforehand. In this case, experts advise to reduce the load, for example, reduce the number of repetitions, or stop the workout altogether. To avoid these conditions, it is important to eat one and a half to two hours before training. During the lesson, it is important to avoid dehydration, the symptoms of which (dizziness, darkening of the eyes, tinnitus) are often similar to those of hypoglycemia.

90,000 Diabetes Awareness Month – Women’s Care

What is prediabetes?

· Prediabetes describes people who are at risk of developing diabetes. Like diabetics, they often have no symptoms. If so, the most common of these are increased urination, increased thirst, and blurred vision. These symptoms are due to higher blood sugar levels. Basically, the problem with diabetes is that the body either doesn’t make enough of a signaling hormone called insulin to process sugar (type 1), or the body doesn’t respond to the insulin it produces (type 2).

· More than 90% of patients with diabetes are type 2, and about 30% of Americans can be considered prediabetes. Prediabetes can be detected with laboratory tests. In prediabetes, the blood sugar concentration is above normal (fasting glucose> 100, HbA1c> 5.7), but does not meet the threshold for diabetes (fasting glucose> 126; HbA1c> 6.5).

If I have prediabetes, will I automatically get type 2 diabetes?

No.People with prediabetes do have an increased risk of developing diabetes. In fact, about one in four people with pre-diabetes will develop diabetes in five years. However, this progression can be prevented by lifestyle changes.

What changes can I make to prevent type 2 diabetes?

· Overweight and a sedentary lifestyle are the main risk factors for diabetes. To prevent diabetes, the first step is to adjust your diet and exercise.

· The goal of the diet is to reduce the intake of foods high in sugar, especially sugary drinks such as sodas, while increasing the intake of fruits and vegetables. Also, not all carbohydrates are created equal. We’ve known since the 1980s that eating potatoes raises the peak in sugar much faster than eating the same amount of whole grains. Foods with complex carbohydrates and foods with a higher fiber content release sugar more gradually, at a peak.In contrast, processed foods and sugary drinks tend to contain more simple sugars, which raise glucose levels faster.

· When exercising, try to be active for 30 minutes every day. Going to the gym is great, but even activities like walking are helpful. A weight loss goal of 5-10% of your body weight can significantly reduce your risk of diabetes.

· If you smoke, quitting smoking also helps reduce your risk and has long-term benefits for your cardiovascular health.

· If these first steps are not effective, the next approach is to start taking medication. Metformin is a drug commonly used in diabetic patients and has been shown to reduce the progression from prediabetes to diabetes.

If I have prediabetes, will it affect my ability to get pregnant?

Yes. While we know that women with diabetes can get pregnant, the full answer is that people with prediabetes usually have several related conditions that can make pregnancy difficult.They are more likely to have irregular periods, often due to being overweight. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

is common in women with prediabetes and may also contribute to decreased fertility.

· More importantly, we know that women with poorly controlled diabetes have almost twice as many miscarriages. They are also four times more similar to congenital fetal abnormalities. These include heart defects and nervous system abnormalities such as spina bifida.Women with diabetes, who can control glucose levels well, do not have this risk.

· Later in pregnancy, complications of poorly controlled maternal diabetes are mainly associated with cardiovascular disease. These include preeclampsia and kidney damage. From a fetal perspective, since there is more sugar in the bloodstream, the baby tends to gain weight. Being overweight increases the risk of birth injury, the most common of which are shoulder and nerve injuries.

· After birth, babies born to diabetic mothers may have fluctuations in their own blood sugar. This is because the baby used to be in a higher sugar environment more, and removing that environment can result in a lower sugar environment.

What can I do to treat prediabetes during pregnancy?

· The best approach would be to control prediabetes before you get pregnant. If you are planning to become pregnant, it is helpful to meet with your doctor for a preliminary visit to review your medical history and conduct a risk assessment.Every patient who intends to become pregnant should be tested for diabetes, thyroid function, and carefully study the list of medications.

· During pregnancy, diet is the first priority. The goal should be to avoid large single meals with foods that quickly raise blood sugar levels. This means choosing complex carbohydrates such as whole grains rather than highly refined foods. I recommend three meals a day with extra snacks.I also recommend consulting a certified diabetes instructor for dietary advice. Moms should check their fasting blood sugar levels and after meals to assess the effectiveness of the diet.

· If dietary changes alone are not enough, medication is the next step. They can be taken as pills or insulin injections.

What is the relationship between prediabetes and gestational diabetes?

· These two are very closely related. Gestational diabetes (GDM) is often the first sign that a woman will have prediabetes or diabetes in the future.The best evidence comes from a 2018 international multi-ethnic study that looked at mothers with gestational diabetes about 10 years after their initial diagnosis during pregnancy. Among patients with a history of GDM, almost every second was diagnosed with prediabetes or diabetes. In contrast, in patients without a history of GDM, only 1 in 2 developed prediabetes or diabetes.

What else should I know?

· Data on the use of sugar substitutes during pregnancy are very limited.So far, there is no evidence that conventional substitutes (aspartame, sucralose, saccharin, etc.) increase the risk of birth defects. However, there are some studies that suggest that their consumption by mothers is associated with childhood obesity, so their consumption should be limited.

90,000 Diabetes mellitus: symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment

Attention!

The information in the article is for reference only and cannot be used for self-diagnosis and self-medication.If you find any symptoms of the disease, contact your doctor.

Contents:

Diabetes mellitus is a pathology that belongs to the group of endocrine pathologies. It is associated with a disorder in the absorption of glucose.
The disorder develops due to the absolute or relative deficiency of insulin – the hormone responsible for its processing. Have
a patient with diabetes mellitus has hyperglycemia.

This condition is characterized by a persistent rise in plasma glucose.The patient has a violation of all types of metabolism:
water-salt, carbohydrate, protein, fat, mineral.
The disease has a chronic course. Diabetes mellitus is a common ailment. It is detected in almost 6%
population of the Earth.

Causes of diabetes mellitus

The reasons for the development of types of diabetes of the first and second types in patients are different. The first type of disease is detected in young
patients under thirty years of age.Violation of insulin production occurs when the pancreas is affected by autoimmune genesis. With him, destruction occurs
insulin producing ß-cells.

In most patients, this pathology occurs after a viral infection. Most often mumps, measles
rubella, viral hepatitis.
This pathological condition can also develop after toxic effects on the body with the following substances: nitrosamine,
pesticides, some medicines.

These substances contribute to the impairment of the immune response and the occurrence of autoimmune reactions. The effect of altered immune cells on
islets of Langerhans of the pancreas causes their death.
In this regard, the production of insulin decreases. This condition develops when more than 80% of these cells are affected.

In the second type of disease, all cells become insensitive to insulin. Plasma insulin levels are normal or
elevated, but the cells do not perceive it.Most of these patients with diabetes.
Glucose tolerance occurs for the following reasons:

• Genetic predisposition. These patients have relatives with diabetes. If both parents suffer,
  the probability of inheriting a predisposition to it increases to 70%.
• Obesity. With a large amount of adipose tissue in the body, their sensitivity to insulin decreases.
• Inappropriate nutrition.With a predominance of simple carbohydrates in food and a lack of fiber, the risk of developing sugar
  diabetes.
• Cardiovascular pathology. Severe forms of these diseases – atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, arterial hypertension lead to an increase
  insulin resistance of tissues.
• Chronic stress. In this state, the level of catecholamines and glucocorticoids increases. This contributes to the development of diabetes.
• Taking certain medications.A group of drugs that increase the risk of diabetes include: synthetic glucocorticoids,
  diuretics, part of antihypertensive drugs, cytostatics.
• Chronic adrenal cortex insufficiency. This disease increases the risk of developing tissue insulin resistance.

As a result, the penetration of glucose into cells decreases and its level in the blood increases.

Symptoms of diabetes mellitus

• insatiable thirst;
• Frequent urination, leading to dehydration;
• dry mouth;
• increased fatigue;
• general weakness;
• minor skin lesions heal slowly;
• vomiting;
• persistent nausea;
• the smell of acetone from the patient;
• increased breathing rate;
• heartbeat;
• itching of the skin;
• rapid weight loss;
• frequent urination;
• decrease in visual acuity.

If any of these signs occur, you should seek immediate medical attention for a blood sugar test.

Types of diabetes mellitus

Pathology, depending on the reasons, is divided into several types. The following types of disease are distinguished: type 1 diabetes, diabetes 2
type, specific forms, gestational diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus

Type 1 variant occurs when there is a lack of insulin production in the body.It is a hormone that regulates glucose metabolism in tissues.
Lack of it arises from damage to beta cells
pancreas due to the development of autoimmune reactions.

The immune system is damaged and produces antibodies against the body’s own tissues. This situation arises after the transferred
viral infections, severe stress, exposure to other adverse factors.

The disease often occurs in young people and children. The disease has a sudden onset.Its symptoms are pronounced, since
cells quickly become starved. Reveals very high glucose levels,
often it reaches up to 30 mmol / l in the blood.

Variety 1 of the disease is considered LADA-diabetes. It is an autoimmune diabetes that occurs in adults and is characterized by latent
flow. For him, a decrease in insulin in the blood and a normal weight are typical.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus

In type 2 diabetes, insulin secretion is not affected.There is an excess level of this hormone in the blood. Cells in the body
lose sensitivity to the action of the substance. Patients develop insulin resistance.
About 90% of all identified persons with diabetes are patients with the second type of the disease. This type of diabetes often develops in
obese people after 40 years.

Among the concomitant diseases are revealed: atherosclerosis, arterial hypertension. The disease has a gradual onset. Symptoms of it
scanty.The glucose level rises moderately. Antibodies to pancreatic cells are not detected.
This situation contributes to the late visits of the patient to the doctor when complications have appeared.

Complications of diabetes mellitus

Separate acute and chronic complications of the disease. Acute complications develop rapidly and require urgent hospitalization. To them
include the following states:

• Hypoglycemia. In this condition, glucose levels are sharply reduced. It occurs when an overdose of insulin, delayed intake
  food, physical strain.The patient develops hunger, a feeling of trembling in the hands, dizziness, sweating, aggression. Then consciousness is disturbed.
• Ketoacidosis. With it, the level of glucose rises. It does not enter cells and accumulates in the blood. The condition is manifested by a decrease
  appetite, dry skin, thirst.
  The smell of acetone emanates from the patient. Confusion of consciousness, drowsiness appears.
• Hyperosmolar coma. It is characterized by an increase in blood glucose with general dehydration of the body.
• Lactic acidotic coma. The condition occurs in the elderly in the presence of disorders of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.
  due to oxygen starvation.

Patients with signs of these pathological conditions require immediate medical attention.

In case of late complications, lesions of the vascular and nervous system are observed. Diabetic angiopathy is a massive vascular lesion.
It applies to vessels of any caliber.Microangiopathies cause diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy. Macroangiopathies affect the vessels of the heart, brain and
arteries of the lower extremities.

Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus

If this disorder is suspected, the following tests are prescribed:

• blood glucose level;
• urine analysis for glucose and ketone bodies;
• test for glycosylated hemoglobin;
• C-peptide in the blood;
• stress test (determination of glucose tolerance).

To identify complications, the following is prescribed: ultrasound scanning of the kidneys, EEG of the brain, rheoencephalography, rheovasography of the vessels of the legs.

Diabetes mellitus treatment

Compliance with the doctor’s prescriptions should be strictly observed. Blood sugar control and medication
the disease is carried out for life.
These measures slow down the pathological process and avoid complications.

Treatment of pathology involves a decrease in blood glucose, as well as the normalization of metabolism and the prevention of complications.

Diabetes mellitus diet

Diet therapy is the mainstay of treatment. The diet is prescribed, taking into account body weight, age, level of physical activity. The patient is taught the principle of calculating the calorie content of dishes, they must contain the required amount of all nutrients.

* The table is a partial list of products.For the correct and complete diet, consult with
a specialist.

Diet principle for this disease:

• Foods that rapidly increase blood glucose concentration should be removed. This food is high in starch, sugar,
  fructose.
• Reduce the total calorie content. The energy value of meals is equal to the number of calories burned.
• It is necessary to observe six meals a day.

In diabetes mellitus, it is important to eat regularly. If the patient adheres to the diet, then only this can achieve improvement
the patient’s condition. With a mild form of the disease, only nutritional correction is dispensed with.

Low calorie foods are preferred. They should be rich in protein, plant fiber and nutritional
fibers.

Limit foods containing large amounts of animal fats, fast carbohydrates, fructose.Remove all products
with a high glycemic index. Alcohol with diabetes is also prohibited.

Insulin therapy

The introduction of insulin is carried out according to the scheme recommended by the doctor. At the same time, the glucose level is systematically monitored. Insulins
produced in three types: short-acting, prolonged, intermediate.

Prolonged drug is administered once a day. Compliance with the individually selected scheme for the use of intermediate and short
insulin allows you to achieve compensation for the disease.

Self-monitoring of glycemic levels

Blood glucose self-monitoring is performed daily. Modern blood glucose meters allow you to do this anywhere – at home and at
work at a convenient time. The device helps to formulate a balanced diet,
develop a plan for physical activity, determine the timing of insulin delivery and medication. The measurement detects hypoglycemia and
helps to keep glucose concentrations in the normal range.

Sugar-lowering drugs

Sugar-lowering tablets are prescribed for type 2 diabetes as a supplement to the diet.There are such groups
drugs:

• sulfonylurea derivatives – stimulate pancreatic insulin secretion, facilitate the penetration of glucose into cells;
• biguanides – reduce the absorption of glucose in the intestinal wall;
• meglitinides – reduce sugar levels, stimulate insulin secretion;
• alpha-glucosidase inhibitors – slow down the rise in sugar levels by inactivating enzymes for starch assimilation;
• thiazolidinediones – reduce the amount of sugar released from the liver cells, improve the sensitivity of cells to
  insulin.

In diabetes, it is important to monitor the patient’s well-being and condition in order to avoid sudden changes in glucose levels.

Prevention of diabetes mellitus

Patients with diabetes mellitus need to be constantly monitored by an endocrinologist – he will help organize a correct lifestyle, diet
nutrition and necessary treatment. It is important to avoid the development of acute and chronic complications.