Diabetes—Hyperglycemia (High Blood Sugar)

Hyperglycemia is when the level of sugar in the blood is above normal or above the blood sugar range you have been given as right for you.

Causes

• 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

Onset

The onset of high blood sugar is usually slow. The time it takes to come on 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.

Symptoms of Hyperglycemia

There may be few or no symptoms of high blood sugar. 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 should be reported to your doctor or nurse. Symptoms of severe high blood sugar are the same as those listed above plus:

Difficulty breathing

Dizziness when you stand up

Rapid weight loss

Increased drowsiness and/or confusion

Unconsciousness or coma

Treatment

If your blood sugars are above your target range, test four times a day before meals and at bedtime. You may need to test your urine for ketones also.

Following your diet plan is very important. If you have not been following 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, call your doctor or nurse. High blood sugars may be a sign that you have an infection or illness that needs to be treated. High blood sugars 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.

Prevention

Follow your diet plan. If you think that your diet plan is not right for you, call your doctor or your dietitian.

Check your blood sugars as directed by your doctor or nurse. If you are ill, you will need to check your blood sugar at least four times a day.

If you have symptoms of high blood sugar or your blood sugars stay high for two to three days, call your doctor or nurse. If you have moderate or large ketones in your urine, call your doctor or nurse.

If you are on an oral agent or insulin, be sure to take the doses your doctor has told you to take.

Follow sick day guidelines when you have a brief illness (24 hours or less).

See related Patient Textbooks about Internal Medicine.

See related Patient Topics Child and Teen Health, Diabetes, Endocrine System (Hormones), Endocrinology, Food, Nutrition and Metabolism, Immune System/AIDS, Internal Medicine, Juvenile Diabetes or Seniors' Health.

See related Provider Textbooks about Internal Medicine.

See related Provider Topics Child and Teen Health, Diabetes, Endocrine System (Hormones), Endocrinology, Food, Nutrition and Metabolism, Immune System/AIDS, Internal Medicine or Seniors' Health.

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