What is diabetic hyperglycemia?
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| Diabetic Hyperglycemia |
Postprandial or after-meal hyperglycemia - When the level of sugar in blood is more than 180 mg/dl (milligrams per deciliter), it is called postprandial hyperglycemia. For those who don't have diabetes, postprandial or post meal sugar rarely goes beyond 140 mg/dl. Sometimes, a 1-2 hour post meal sugar level can reach 180 mg/dl after a large meal. If someone experiences such high post-meal blood sugar level consistently, this should be considered as an indicator of the fact that the person either has or might develop type 2 diabetes in the future.
Fasting hyperglycemia - When the blood sugar level reaches 130 mg/dl after fasting for a long time (minim 8 hours), the condition is called fasting hyperglycemia.
Causes that usually trigger hyperglycemia, include:
• Huge level of stress
• Infection
• Strenuous physical activity
• Illness
• Decreased intensity of exercise than what's usual
• Eating too much of carbohydrates compared to the amount of insulin administered or the intake of too many grams of carbohydrates
• Forgetting or skipping oral glucose-lowering medicine or insulin
Identifying the symptoms
If hyperglycemia is not treated from the very early stage, it might develop to ketoacidosis (in case you have type 1 diabetes) or HHNS (in case you have type 2 diabetes), both of which may lead to severe emergencies. Symptoms to recognize hyperglycemia at its early stage include:
• Headaches
• Increased thirst
• Blurred vision
• Difficulty in concentrating
• Fatigue (feeling tired and weak)
• Very frequent urination
• Blood sugar more than 180 mg/dl
• Weight loss
While these are the symptoms of early hyperglycemia, prolonged hyperglycemia in diabetes might lead to:
• Slow healing of cuts and sores
• Skin and vaginal infections
• Damage to kidneys, eyes and blood vessels
• Decreased vision
• Stomach as well as intestinal problems like diarrhea or chronic constipation
• Loss of hair on the lower extremities, nerve damage causing insensitive or painful cold feet, erectile dysfunction
• Fruity smelling breath
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dry mouth
• Abdominal pain
• Coma
• Confusion
Complications
It is important to know the complications, based on which one can decide whether visiting the doctor is essential. The following conditions warrant immediate medical attention:
• The blood glucose levels are consistently above 240 mg/dl with ketones in your urine.
• You are feeling sick and can't keep any fluids or food down.
• You have fever for more than 24 hours.
• You suffer from constant vomiting and diarrhea.
• You notice formation of blood clot.
• You are experiencing acute circulatory collapse or shocks.
• Your blood sugar level doesn't go below 240 mg/dl even after taking all your diabetes medications.
Can you avoid it?
While there are no such hard and fast rules following which hyperglycemia can be avoided, it is nonetheless advisable to consult your doctor rather than popping medicines that you have bought over-the-counter. Consulting a doctor who has expertise in treating diabetes will help you with good diabetes management techniques. S/he can also help to detect the symptoms of hyperglycemia and treat it from the initial stage-before it gets worse. Apart from this, controlling type2 diabetes and recognizing the early symptoms of infection and dehydration can also help prevent this condition.
Steps to manage
Diabetic hyperglycemia can be managed by treating the dehydration at first as this will help improve the urine output, blood pressure and circulation. Giving the patient fluids orally or intravenously can help him/her get rehydrated. In case of for severe hyperglycemia, electrolyte replacement through veins and insulin therapy are used.
Some others steps to efficiently manage diabetic hyperglycemia include:
• Following your diabetes meal plan.
• Regular monitoring your blood sugar.
• Intake of medicines as prescribed by your doctor.
• Adjusting your medication based on the changes in the duration and type of your physical activity as well as the test results of your blood sugar level.
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