Hyperglycemia is an abnormally high glucose concentration in blood, plasma, or serum.

What are the causes of hyperglycemia?

Some of the factors that lead to hyperglycemia are: 

•             Eating more food than is in your diet plan

•             Taking less insulin and/or oral agent than you need

•             Infection or illness

•             Injury

•             Surgery

•             Emotional stress

The condition of high blood sugar usually starts very slowly. The time it takes to manifest itself depends on the person and the cause. If the cause is eating too much, the blood sugar will be higher in a few hours. If the cause is infection or illness, it will usually take several hours to days before the blood sugars are high.

What are the symptoms of hyperglycemia?

Some of the common symptoms are:

•             Dry mouth

•             Thirst

•             Frequent urination

•             Urination during the night

•             Blurry vision

•             Fatigue or drowsiness

•             Weight loss

•             Increased appetite

If the blood sugars become very high or are high for a long time, you may have different symptoms. These include the above, plus

•             Difficulty breathing

•             Dizziness when you stand up

•             Rapid weight loss

•             Increased drowsiness and/or confusion

•             Unconsciousness or coma

How do I manage hyperglycemia?

If your blood sugar is above your target range, you have special steps to monitor it. Test four times a day before meals and at bedtime. You may need to test your urine for ketones also.

Sticking to your diet plan is very important. If you have been irregular in your diet, try to get back on it. Check your blood sugars to find out if being back on your diet plan brings your blood sugars down. If your blood sugars stay high even when you follow your diet plan, call your doctor or nurse.

If symptoms of high blood sugar occur or your blood sugars stay high for two or three days, get medical help. High blood sugars may be a sign that you have an infection or illness that needs to be treated. It may be a sign that you need a change in the way your diabetes is treated.

If blood sugars get very high or if you have moderate or large amounts of ketones in your urine, you may need to be admitted to the hospital. High blood sugars can cause loss of body fluids. You may need to have fluids and body salts by vein to replace those you have lost. If you have an infection or illness, it may need to be treated in the hospital too. During an illness, you may need to take insulin or the dose you are on may need to be increased.