- Hyperglycemia is when the blood sugar level is 130 mg / dL before a meal, or 180 mg / dL two hours after a meal.
- Signs and symptoms of hyperglycemia include increased thirst, frequent urination, and blurred vision.
- Hyperglycemia mostly occurs in people with diabetes, although it can also be the result of stress or steroid medications.
- Jason R., a family-physician and clinical assistant professor of medicine at the Texas A&M College College Night Medicine.
- Visit the Inner Health Reference Library for more advice.
Hyperglycemia is when you elevate blood sugar. High blood sugar is defined as 130 mg / dL before a meal, or when you have not eaten for several hours. Two hours after eating, hyperglycemia is when the blood sugar level is more than 180 mg / dL.
By comparison, normal blood sugar levels are usually between 80 mg / dL and 130 mg / dL. Hyperglycemia is the most common for people with diabetes and essentially it describes the blood sugar that defines the chronic condition.
In some cases, hyperglycemia can occur as a result of stress or even as a side effect of steroid medications. Here is how you can recognize the signs of high blood sugar and reduce it quickly.
Signs and symptoms
The most common symptoms of hyperglycemia include:
- Increased thirst
- Drink fluids more often
- Urinate more often
- Blurred vision
- Weight loss
However, the only way to confirm whether there is hyperglycemia is with a blood clot, says Jordan Messler, a hospital specialist at the Morton Plant Hospitalist Group in Clearwater, Florida. This can ensure that your blood sugar level is elevated, and by how much. In fact, symptoms do not always become severe until blood sugar rises above 200 mg / dL.
If left untreated, hyperglycemia can in some cases lead to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) within 24 hours. This condition, found in people with type 1 diabetes, occurs when the body is not able to properly break down sugar for fuel, so it breaks down fat instead, says Messler. This naturally releases acids into the blood, and because the body cannot absorb the acid quickly enough, it becomes toxic to the blood.
DKA is a medical emergency, and people with the following symptoms should visit the emergency room, especially if they have diabetes, says Messler:
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Dry mouth
- Abdominal pain
Reasons
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can cause hyperglycemia. But there are other possible causes, such as stress or steroid medications.
Diabetes
People with diabetes are not able to process blood sugar effectively, either because they do not produce insulin, a hormone that breaks down blood sugar (type 1), or because their body does not use insulin effectively (type 2).
The body cannot break down blood sugar, so it builds up in the bloodstream and increases blood glucose levels, or hyperglycemia.
Hyperglycemia can also occasionally occur in people who are being treated for diabetes. These spikes in blood sugar levels can be caused by:
- Overeating
- Not enough exercise
- Giving yourself too little insulin or medication
- Early in the morning, an early morning event or an increase in hormones that can spike blood sugar
- Stress or illness
Stress
People without diabetes can also get hyperglycemia. For example, stress can cause insulin resistance – a condition where your body does not use insulin effectively.
At the same time, the stress hormone cortisol promotes the release of hepatic glucose, or glucose stored in the liver, which raises blood sugar. This so-called “stress hyperglycemia” can occur during acute medical conditions, such as an infection or heart attack.
Steroids
Steroids such as prednisone and methylprednisolone can also cause hyperglycemia in 46% of patients without diabetes, but this usually resolves when the drug is stopped.
Like the effects of stress, these drugs also increase the release of hepatic glucose and increase insulin resistance, and hyperglycemia can occur even if you do not have diabetes.
Treatment
The goal of treating hyperglycemia is to lower blood sugar. For people with diabetes, this may mean adjusting your insulin levels or following a plan made by you and your doctor ahead of time when you experience hyperglycemia.
People with chronic hyperglycemia due to diabetes should work to lower their blood sugar over time, in addition to treating individual episodes of hyperglycemia.
“The best way to start lowering blood glucose for people who have diabetes is through lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise,” says Messler.
People with type 1 diabetes will need insulin to lower their blood sugar levels, while patients with type 2 diabetes are often treated with oral medications such as metformin, and possibly even insulin, Messler says.
However, for people with stress or steroid-induced hyperglycemia, the condition usually resolves on its own, the stress breaks down, or about four to six hours after stopping the medication.
If hyperglycemia persists after considering the underlying health condition, the patient may be diagnosed as having diabetes, Messler says.
Takeoways
Hyperglycemia is a serious condition, especially if left untreated. It can only be diagnosed by measuring blood sugar, so it is important to talk to your doctor if you are worried about hyperglycemia.
“If you suffer from increased thirst and frequent urination symptoms along with weight loss, you should discuss blood sugar with your doctor,” says Messler.
He also recommends that people who have risk factors for diabetes – including being overweight, have a family history of diabetes, or be over the age of 45 – have their blood sugar levels checked regularly.
