High blood sugar “Hyperglycemia”

Hyperglycemia or high blood sugar occurs when levels of sugar in the blood go above range. The correct range for a normal person is to have blood sugar levels between 80-120 mg/dl. Doctors tend to try and keep their diabetic patients under 160 mg/dl. When blood sugar levels go above these ranges the result is hyperglycemia.

What is the cause for high blood sugar? Hyperglycemia can be attributed to various reasons. Here are some of the more common reasons for an episode of high blood sugar for diabetics.

• Too many carbohydrates or sugar in a meal. (ex. Pizza or spaghetti contain high amounts of carbohydrates) Carbohydrates turn into sugar after consumption.
• Not taking enough insulin. Sometimes errors can occur when administering insulin. If that happens your body will not get the proper dose of insulin it needs.
• Sick days or emotional stress.
• Not getting enough exercise.


There are warning signs for high blood sugar. The diagram below shows some of the common side effects that occur when experiencing hyperglycemia.

There are several measures to take when experiencing high blood sugar. These include:

1. Drink water. By drinking liquids you can flush the excess amount of sugar out of your body. It is important that you drink something that does not contain sugar.

2. If your blood sugar continues to stay elevated you will want to monitor for ketones and ketoacidosis. Your healthcare professional needs to be contacted and will assist you if the blood sugar is staying consistently out of range.

3. An increase in your insulin dosage. Contact your healthcare professional to help you make a decision.

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Letters from Readers:

Diabetes Care Group Contributor Responds:
It sounds like you are out of control with your Diabetes. Any trained medicial professional can help you to regain the control you have lost. If you don’t get your Diabetes under control at some point you will end up in the hospital. Be smart with your body and seek medicial attention now before the later is worse than the dizzy, shaky and not feeling good you feel right now..

Can you explain how eating too much carbohydrate, especially sugar, leads to high blood sugar? Does the blood sugar really get pulled out of the blood and stored as fat? How long does it take for this to happen? Can this lead to a low blood sugar condition immediately afterward? How long does this cycle typically take in an otherwise healthy person? Is it faster or slower for an obese person?
I hope to hear from you. If you could include references to document your answers, that would be even better.
Thanks,
Fred

Diabetes Care Group Contributor Responds:
I am going to answer your question from the point of view of someone who does not already have Diabetes. In someone who does not have diabetes they have what are called beta cells in the pancreas that produces insulin. These beta cells are not replaced by the body. If they die the body will not replace them. So someone who eats lots of sugar and carbohydrates is putting a strain on these beta cells to produce insulin for the body. Eventually what happens is they essentially get tired and gradually slow down in producing insulin. 

Someone who is dealing with obesity is at great risk of developing Diabetes. The beta cells in an obese person have to work harder to produce insulin for the total mass of weight. Treating an obese person with Diabetes is also more challenging than someone who is slimmer.

I don’t know if I am diabetic. However, if I have eaten too many carbohydrates, or several things high in sugar, I feel very lightheaded, drowsy, nausea, with headache, and feel basically incapacitated. I feel like I really have to watch my sugar intake to prevent this. Is this something I need to see a doctor about, or just something that happens to normal people who eat too much sugar from time to time? I am confused between hypo and hyperglycemia.

Diabetes Care Group Contributor Responds:
You are like a lot of people who wonder if they have Diabetes. But you are doing the right thing in looking into it. You are correct that eating too much sugar can make people who do not have Diabetes feel sick. Eating foods high in sugar and with lots of carbohydrates over time can also lead to Diabetes. Check out our article on Diabetes symptoms for more information on what to look for. And don’t be afraid to call your doctor and get yourself examined to be sure.

My 43 year old daughter was hospitalized with blood sugar reading of 420; severe pain, vomiting. She has been diagnosed with severe pancretitis. She has been placed in the critical care unit of the hospital. She was also having difficulty urnating.
My question what is happening to her and does this indicate that she has moved from type 2 diabetis to type 1?? She lives out of state and I do not have contact with her physician.

I on average consume a diet consisting entirely of sugar and carbohydrates, I don’t regularly exercise(I do just not that often) and get on average 2 to 4 hrs of sleep. I am mentally stable, have a weight no higher than 170lbs and keep a decent physique(not to brag really just this has been a situation for the past few years and I was wondering why) I have seen no flux in my body’s functions at all I still maintain 20\10 vision I am 22yrs old and have been doing this for about 3 to 4 years now and just wondering why there are no real effects or if there is something I should be paying attention to(I do have an over large appetite for my size(only about 5′11″). Just curious thank you for your time.

Hello.
I have a 13 years old (1.65 meters high, 54 Kilograms weight) daughter whith an Hyperglycemia problem. We realize that there was something wrong because she was nervous and she was excessive thirst and the urination was excessive too.
We went to the laboratory and we asked for glucose test. The result was 345 mg/dL. Now, she is under medical surveillance. The medical team has decided, 2 hours after she arrived, that she is a diabetic person and she has to use insuline for the rest of her life. This is happening now (13/05/2006). The decision taken by the doctors in that short period of time does not convince me. So, I would like to ask you if there is something that I can do to help my daughter like another kind of exhams (echography, tomography, etc.).
Thank You.
Jesus. p>What happens if a person’s blood sugar goes above 500 for several hours? I’m worried about long-term effects from this. Thanks.

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