What is high blood sugar mean?
High blood sugar is also known as hyperglycemia, normally it affects people who have diabetes or prediabetes conditions. When your body is unable to produce enough or absorb insulin properly, then excess glucose remains in the bloodstream. It can also happen due to the resistance effect to insulin.
It can also affect people who don’t have diabetes. Studies in 2018[1] found that 34.2 million Americans, or 10.5% of the population, had diabetes. Among them, 7.3 million people were found undiagnosed.
It can be caused by diabetes or other conditions, but not always. If you get very dehydrated, it may mean your blood glucose is high even though you do not have diabetes. Also, if you take some medicines or drink alcohol, your blood sugar may become high even though you don’t have diabetes.
What is the normal range of blood sugar?
The normal range of blood sugar is between 70 and 110 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). If it is lower than 70 mg/dL, this means that you have hypoglycemia (also known as a low blood glucose level). If it is higher than 200, you have hyperglycemia.
What are the symptoms of high blood sugar?
Symptoms include:
• feeling very thirsty
• needing to urinate a lot
• experience tired and hungry
• getting sick more often
• cuts and bruises that are slow to heal
How do I know if my blood sugar is high?
If you have diabetes, ask your doctor or nurse how often you should check your glucose in the blood. Your doctor may also check your blood glucose from time to time. Signs of hyperglycemia include:
• urge to urinate a lot
• feel more tired and hungry
• getting sick more often
• cuts and bruises that are slow to heal.
- feeling very thirsty
If you don’t have diabetes, ask your doctor or nurse if you should check your glucose level of blood. You can also buy a blood sugar test kit at the pharmacy to test your blood glucose level yourself.
What causes blood sugar to be high?
Blood sugar will be high if your body does not have enough insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps glucose get into the cells of your body. Without enough insulin, the glucose stays in the blood.
High blood sugar can also happen if you take too much medication for diabetes or drink alcohol. It can also happen when you are sick with a cold, flu, or another illness.
How is high blood sugar diagnosed?
Your doctor may diagnose hyperglycemia by checking your blood glucose level.
Further, check out: 10 Signs of High Blood Sugar In Adults
What type of doctor treats high blood sugar?
A family medicine doctor, internal medicine doctor, or endocrinologist can treat high blood sugar.
How do you treat high blood glucose?
You can treat high blood glucose levels by following your doctor’s instructions. These may include making healthy food choices, exercising regularly, and taking your medication as directed.
Are there complications of hyperglycemia that I should know about? If you have diabetes, high glucose in the blood can lead to serious problems such as:
- eye damage (retinopathy)
- kidney damage (nephropathy)
- nerve damage (neuropathy)
How can I prevent high blood sugar?
You may not be able to prevent high blood sugar, but the following steps may help you manage your blood glucose:
- Follow a healthy eating plan. Limit foods that have a lot of sugar and fat. Try to eat at regular times each day.
- Exercise regularly. Exercise can help you manage your blood glucose if you have diabetes.
- Ask your doctor about medicines to help lower your risk of getting diabetes complications.
- use supplements to lower blood glucose support
What tips can I follow to prevent high sugar levels?
Tips include:
• Take your diabetes medications exactly as directed.
• Watch for signs that your blood glucose is too high or too low.
Can I prevent complications?
You may not be able to prevent high sugar of the blood, but the following steps may help you manage it:
Following a healthy eating plan;
Limiting foods that have a lot of sugar and fat;
Try to eat at regular times each day;
Exercising regularly;
Ask your doctor about medicines to help lower your risk of getting diabetes complications.
How can I stop my condition from getting worse?
You may not be able to stop your condition from getting worse, but the following steps may help you manage it:
- Take your diabetes medications exactly as directed.
- Watch for signs that your sugar level is too high or too low.
How do I become well again?
Your doctor may prescribe medications to lower your sugar level if you have diabetes. You should be under the care of a doctor when taking these medications. If you do not have diabetes, ask your doctor if you should take medications to lower your blood glucose.
If you choose to take these medications on your own, talk with your doctor before doing so.
To learn more:
Talk with your primary care provider about when and how often you need to check your blood glucose.
Ask if you should check it more often when you have an illness.
Ask your doctor which signs and symptoms of low blood glucose you should look for.
Learn how to check your own blood glucose at home.
FAQ on high blood sugar
What happens when your blood sugar is too high?
Having too much sugar in the blood can damage the vessels that supply blood to vital organs. Further, it can cause serious health problems including vision problems, nerve problems, and heart and kidney disease.
What is dangerously high blood sugar?
If your blood glucose level of 300 mg/dL or more can be treated as dangerous. In this condition, you need to consult a doctor as soon as possible.
What is considered high blood sugar?
In general, if your blood sugar is found above 160 mg/dl can consider a high blood sugar or ‘hyperglycemia’ condition.
What are the signs of high blood sugar?
- Frequent urination.
- Increased thirst.
- Fatigue.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Shortness of breath.
- Stomach pain.
- Fruity breath odor.
- A very dry mouth.
- Common signs you may feel