High blood sugar is what it is called when your body has too little insulin. This also happens when your body cannot use insulin properly. High blood sugar is called hyperglycemia. High blood sugar is a major cause of complications with diabetes. Complications are new problems caused by the diabetes. High blood sugar causes damage to nerves, blood vessels, and other body organs. Things like high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, and blindness can happen if high blood sugar occurs often. High blood sugar often happens when people have diabetes. It is something to avoid.
Check your blood sugar or glucose level to see if your level is high. You need to know the signs of high blood sugar so you can treat it quickly. You can often lower your blood sugar with exercise, eating the right foods and portion sizes, and medicines. Skipping or forgetting to take your medicine as the doctor told you to do can lead to problems.
High blood sugar is present when higher numbers show on your meter when you check. You might notice that you are thirsty and drinking more than usual. You will also notice a need to go to the bathroom more often to urinate. If you test your urine, you are likely to find high levels of sugar or ketones there. Ask your doctor how often you should check your blood sugar. Ask what your blood sugar levels should be. Check your blood sugar as the doctor or diabetes educators tells you. Treating high blood sugar early will help you avoid problems.
Many things can cause high blood sugar or hyperglycemia. If you have type 1 diabetes, you may not be getting the right amount of insulin. If you have type 2 diabetes, your body may not have enough insulin or it is not working as well as it should. If you eat more than is needed or less active high blood sugar can occur. If you have an illness, even a cold, flu, or an infection, your blood sugar could be higher. Other stresses, such as family conflicts or personal problems can also cause your blood sugar to be higher.
High blood sugar or glucose is a serious problem. It needs to be treated as soon as you notice it. If you fail to treat it, a condition called ketoacidosis (diabetic coma) can occur. This condition develops when your body does not have enough insulin. Your body cannot use glucose for fuel without the right amount of insulin. If this happens your body breaks down fats to use for energy. When your body breaks down fats, waste products called ketones are produced. Your body will try to get rid of ketones through the urine. The body cannot get rid of all the ketones. They build up in your blood and lead to ketoacidosis. Ketoacidosis is life-threatening! If this happens you need medical care at once.
Talk to your doctor about how to handle high blood sugar. The best thing to do is prevent it from happening. Here are things you can do:
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