Diabetes Symptom – Hyperglycaemia

Hyperglycaemia, or high blood sugar, occurs when the body has too little insulin or when the body can’t use insulin properly. While it’s a defining characteristic of diabetes, it can also occur in people who are severely ill or under extreme stress. Understanding hyperglycaemia is essential for effective diabetes management and preventing serious complications.

Causes

Hyperglycaemia can be caused by:

• Insufficient insulin or diabetes medication
• Eating more carbohydrates than your medication can manage
• Physical inactivity
• Illness or infection
• Stress
• Dawn phenomenon (early morning hormone surge)
• Certain medications (steroids, some antipsychotics)
• Surgery or trauma

For people without diagnosed diabetes, severe illness, infections, trauma, or certain medications can temporarily cause hyperglycaemia.

Symptoms

Hyperglycaemia develops slowly, but symptoms become more noticeable as blood glucose levels rise. Common symptoms include:

• Frequent urination, especially at night
• Excessive thirst
• Increased hunger
• Fatigue or tiredness
• Blurred vision
• Slow-healing cuts or wounds
• Recurrent infections (skin, urinary, vaginal)
• Unexplained weight loss (in Type 1 diabetes)
• Headaches

If hyperglycaemia persists for extended periods, it can lead to more serious symptoms and complications, including diabetic ketoacidosis (primarily in type 1 diabetes) or hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state (primarily in type 2 diabetes).

Treatment

Treatment for hyperglycaemia depends on the cause and severity:

For people with diabetes:

• Follow your diabetes management plan
• Take insulin or diabetes medications as prescribed
• Monitor blood glucose levels regularly
• Adjust food intake, particularly carbohydrates
• Increase physical activity (if blood glucose isn’t extremely high)
• Stay hydrated with sugar-free fluids
• Work with healthcare providers to adjust treatment if hyperglycaemia persists

For occasional high readings:

• Identify and address the cause (missed medication, excess food, illness)
• Increase water intake
• Exercise if blood glucose isn’t extremely high and no ketones are present
• Monitor more frequently until levels return to target range

When to Seek Medical Help

Contact your healthcare provider if:

• Blood glucose remains above 13.9 mmol/L (250 mg/dL) for more than 24 hours
• You have symptoms of hyperglycaemia and are unable to bring levels down
• You have symptoms of dehydration (extreme thirst, dry mouth)
• You have Type 1 diabetes and have ketones in your urine

Seek emergency care if you experience:

• Severe dehydration
• Confusion or difficulty staying awake
• Shortness of breath
• Fruity-smelling breath
• Nausea and vomiting that prevents fluid and food intake

Prevention

To prevent hyperglycaemia:

• Take medications as prescribed
• Follow your meal plan
• Adjust food and medication during illness or stress
• Exercise regularly
• Monitor blood glucose frequently
• Work with healthcare providers to adjust your management plan as needed

Regular monitoring and prompt action when blood glucose levels start to rise can prevent severe hyperglycaemia and its complications.