Your dietary habits, lifestyle, and stressful life may lead to hyperglycemia without you even noticing. Many people are unaware, but those with pre-diabetes, also known as hidden sugar, sometimes experience hyperglycemia. In a state of hyperglycemia, the amount of glucose in the blood is high, causing blood sugar levels to rise. The carbohydrates and fats you consume from food are converted into glucose for energy and enter the bloodstream.
When you consume more of these foods than necessary, your blood sugar rises. In healthy individuals, when sugar levels increase, the pancreas produces insulin to help glucose move into the cells. This way, blood sugar drops to normal levels, allowing the body to maintain healthy functions. However, in diabetic individuals, due to the lack or insufficient production of insulin, blood sugar increases, leading to hyperglycemia. In the following sections, you will find information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of hyperglycemia and other related details.
What is Hyperglycemia?
Hyperglycemia occurs when blood sugar rises due to an increase in blood glucose levels. Hyperglycemia is defined as a blood sugar level exceeding 100 mg/dl when fasting, and above 140 mg/dl after meals. Fasting blood sugar refers to your blood sugar after an 8-10 hour fast, while postprandial blood sugar indicates your blood sugar level two hours after eating.
Hyperglycemia can result from a sudden rise or may be a frequent occurrence due to conditions like diabetes. If left untreated, hyperglycemia can damage many tissues and organs in the body. The most significant harms caused by high blood sugar include vision problems, kidney disorders, sexual dysfunction, vascular damage, and nerve cell damage.
What are the Causes of Hyperglycemia?
The most common causes of hyperglycemia are Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. In diabetic patients, either insulin is not produced, or it is produced insufficiently, leading to a rise in blood sugar. Unhealthy eating, a sedentary lifestyle, and stress can also cause hyperglycemia. Blood sugar increases due to stress, a condition known as stress-induced hyperglycemia.
This type usually results in a temporary and occasional increase in blood sugar. Hyperglycemia can also develop due to various diseases such as acromegaly, Cushing’s syndrome, pheochromocytoma, hyperthyroidism, hemochromatosis, cystic fibrosis, gestational diabetes, pancreatitis, and cancer. Recently undergone surgery, infections, long-term use of corticosteroids, estrogen use, excessive weight, and heavy smoking can also lead to hyperglycemia.
What are the Symptoms of Hyperglycemia?
The symptoms of hyperglycemia, which occur due to high blood sugar, may vary from person to person and depend on the level of blood sugar elevation. When blood sugar rises to a level that can cause a coma, it presents with life-threatening symptoms.
Symptoms of hyperglycemia include:
- Frequent urination
- Increased thirst
- Dry mouth
- Bad breath
- Blurred vision
- Weakness and fatigue
- Burning sensation in the feet
- Foamy and dark-colored urine
- Slow healing of wounds
Symptoms of hyperglycemic coma are as follows:
- Vomiting
- Rapid breathing
- Shortness of breath
- Palpitations
- Loss of consciousness
- Dehydration
Hyperglycemia can lead to various health problems, such as vision impairments, neuropathic pain, diabetic nephropathy, and erectile dysfunction.
How is Hyperglycemia Treated?
The primary step in treating hyperglycemia involves adjusting your lifestyle and dietary habits. If necessary, you should create a meal plan with a dietitian and prioritize a balanced and regular diet. A lack of physical activity can lead to many diseases, including hyperglycemia. You should not miss opportunities for physical activity, such as opting for regular stairs instead of elevators or escalators. Technological advancements often encourage a sedentary lifestyle.
If lifestyle changes are insufficient for treating hyperglycemia, medication or insulin therapy may be required. In hyperglycemia, oral antidiabetics and oral antihyperglycemics are used for medication. In patients with Type 1 diabetes, who cannot produce insulin from birth, drug treatment alone is usually not enough. For Type 1 diabetic patients, regular blood sugar monitoring and appropriate insulin doses are necessary. Without careful attention to diet, insulin timing, and dosage, there’s also a risk of hypoglycemia along with hyperglycemia.
What is the Recommended Daily Exercise to Prevent Hyperglycemia?
To prevent hyperglycemia, physical activity should be a part of your routine. It is recommended to exercise at least 3-4 times a week for a minimum of 30 minutes to an hour. If a person has diabetes, they should avoid exercising right before meals or 3-4 hours after eating to prevent hypoglycemia. If the individual is overweight, daily exercise is advised. When starting exercise, begin with 10 minutes of warm-up and 10 minutes of stretching to avoid sudden strain on the body.
How Should You Eat to Prevent Hyperglycemia?
A balanced and regular diet plays a crucial role in preventing hyperglycemia. To keep blood sugar levels stable, eat main meals and small snacks like nuts or yogurt, ensuring you eat small but frequent meals. Emphasize meat and vegetables in your diet while avoiding carbohydrate- and fat-rich foods. Additionally, it is recommended to avoid eating fruits late in the day and consume them in small amounts, no larger than a fist, as the sugar in fruits can significantly raise blood sugar levels.
Is Hyperglycemia More Common in Women or Men?
Contrary to popular belief, hyperglycemia is more common in women than men. Diabetes, characterized by high blood sugar, is 7-8 times more frequent in women compared to men. Pre-diabetes, also known as hidden sugar, is 28 times more common in women. This means many women are unaware they have pre-diabetes. Genetic factors, lifestyle, and eating habits contribute to the higher incidence of diabetes in women.
Can Children Have Hyperglycemia?
Hyperglycemia can affect all age groups, including children. In children, hyperglycemia typically occurs when they are born with Type 1 diabetes. Some children need regular blood sugar monitoring and insulin injections from an early age. Diabetic children face the challenges of managing this condition from a young age.
What is Hyperglycemic Coma?
A hyperglycemic coma, which occurs when blood sugar levels rise significantly, is a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate attention. Hyperglycemic coma usually manifests in two forms. One is Diabetic Ketoacidosis, a severe condition caused by the breakdown of body fat, leading to the accumulation of ketone bodies in the blood. The other is a hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, resulting from severe dehydration due to significant fluid loss in the body. In the event of a hyperglycemic coma, urgent intervention is essential, and you should reach a hospital or call an ambulance as soon as possible.
Which Foods Can Rapidly Cause Hyperglycemia?
Foods that rapidly raise blood sugar include table sugar, honey, molasses, jam, marmalade, fruit juice, and sweetened stews, all of which are sugary foods that quickly enter the bloodstream. Individuals at risk of hyperglycemia are advised to avoid these foods. In addition, pastries, pasta, rice, desserts, snacks, chocolate, and halva should not be consumed by those struggling with hyperglycemia.