Hyperglycemia

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• QHow does diabetes cause high blood sugar levels?

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  A Intermountain Registered Dietitians , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Intermountain Healthcare

  If you have type 1 diabetes, your pancreas has stopped—or nearly stopped—making insulin. Insulin allows glucose to cross out of your bloodstream and go into your body's cells—it's like a key that "unlocks" the cells. Without an insulin "key" you have no way to "unlock" your cells to allow glucose from your bloodstream to enter. You also have no way to block the release of glucose from your liver into your bloodstream. Your blood glucose gets too high.

  If you have type 2 diabetes, your body's cells have become resistant to insulin. So even though you have an insulin "key," it's as if the cell "lock" is broken so that glucose can't easily get in. Glucose stays in your bloodstream and blood glucose gets too high. Over time, some people with type 2 diabetes also develop trouble making enough insulin (insulin deficiency), which is the same problem that people with type 1 diabetes have.

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• QWhat causes high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) in children with diabetes?

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  A Intermountain Registered Dietitians , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Intermountain Healthcare

  Sometimes the blood glucose of a child with diabetes will be too high. This is called hyperglycemia. It may be due to:

  • illness
  • eating too much
  • missing an insulin dose
  • stress

  The child will drink lots of water and urinate more than usual. If you know a child has diabetes, and blood tests show that the child’s blood glucose meter reading is above 300mg/dl, follow the instructions on the student’s diabetes care plan and notify the parents immediately.

• QCan I have elevated blood sugar without having diabetes?

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  A Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine answered

  Yes, a number of things can cause high blood sugar but most of the time it is due to having diabetes. But it can also be due to other causes. These include medications such as beta blockers, epinephrine, thiazide diuretics, corticosteroids, niacin, pentamidine, protease inhibitors and some antipsychotics. Illegal drug use of amphetamine can produce high blood sugar. Some of the newer, double action anti-depressants like Zyprexa and Cymbalta can also cause significant high blood sugar.

  Another cause of high blood sugar is when the body is in a state of physical stress associated with critical illness like a stroke or heart attack. An active blood infection, known as sepsis, is often seen with blood sugar levels that are high. During these times of stress, the body releases its own hormones that can raise blood sugar. The level that the blood sugar reaches can change from person to person and should not be used as a diagnosis of diabetes. Further testing, such checking blood sugar levels after not eating for 8 hours or checking a special test of red blood cells can show if there really is a diagnosis of diabetes.

• QWhat is hyperglycemia?

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  A American Diabetes Association answered

  Hyperglycemia is the technical term for high blood glucose (sugar), which happens from time to time to all people who have diabetes. High blood glucose happens when the body has too little insulin or when the body can’t use insulin properly. It is a major cause of complications with diabetes. Generally, fasting levels are above 130 mg/dl and above 180 mg/dl 2 hours after a meal. Symptoms include frequent urination, increased thirst, and weight loss.

  You can cope with hyperglycemia by understanding the following concepts:

  • Check blood glucose levels to determine when your level is high.
  • Learn to identify the symptoms of hyperglycemia so you can treat it quickly.
  • When high, lower your blood glucose level by exercising, unless ketones are present in your urine.

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• QWhy do my blood glucose levels go too high?

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  A Jumo Health answered

  If you have type 1 diabetes, your blood glucose level can go too high for a number of reasons, such as if you don't take enough insulin, if you are sick, or if you eat lots of food. When you eat, your blood glucose level goes up. But not all foods have the same effect. Carbohydrates have the greatest impact on blood glucose levels, so when eating them, it is important to choose healthy sources such as whole grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables, and dairy products.

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• QWhat happens if my blood sugar gets really high?

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  A American Diabetes Association answered

  High blood sugar can lead to severe complications over time. People with a history of chronic high blood glucose levels can develop problems with their eyes, kidneys, circulation or nerves.

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• QAre blood glucose goals different for type 2 diabetes than for type 1?

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  A American Diabetes Association answered

  If you have type 2 diabetes, your blood glucose targets are not that different from those of people with type 1. However, the way you reach those targets may be different. Talk to your health care provider about strategies you may need to pursue. 
• QWhat are the symptoms of hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome (HHS)?

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  A American Diabetes Association answered

  If you experience any of the following signs of hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome, you need to check your blood glucose level at once and call your health care provider. Be sure those around you know what to do, because you may not be able to react:

  •  dry, parched mouth

  •  extreme thirst, although this may gradually disappear

  •  sleepiness or confusion

  •  warm, dry skin with no sweating

  •  high blood glucose. If it’s over 300 mg/dl on two readings, call your
     health care team; if it’s over 500 mg/dl, have someone take you to the
     hospital immediately

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• QHow do high blood sugar levels harm people with diabetes?

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  A William Lee Dubois , Endocrinology Diabetes & Metabolism, answered

  When the bloodstream becomes flooded with sugar that can’t get into the cells that need it, a cascade of trouble follows.
  
  At first, high blood sugar levels sap your energy, make your vision blurry, and mess with your mood and concentration. You will be more susceptible to infection, to heart attacks and strokes, and if you’re male—to erectile dysfunction. In short, high blood sugar levels pretty much screw up your entire mind and body. And that’s just the beginning.
  
  High levels of sugar in your blood make it corrosive, turning the life-sustaining soup into a killing battery acid circulating throughout your body. Sustained high blood sugar levels will destroy your kidneys, cause blindness, and kindle nerve damage. You’ll heal from injuries slowly, if at all, putting you at risk for lower extremity amputations.

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• QWhat should I do if I have high blood sugar (hyperglycemia)?

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  A Intermountain Registered Dietitians , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Intermountain Healthcare

  If you think your blood glucose is high (hyperglycemia), do this right away:
  
  1. Check blood glucose. This helps make sure that the symptoms are coming from high blood glucose, not something else.
  
  If your blood glucose is high, take your correction dose of insulin. Follow your doctor's instructions for taking this dose. Correction doses are usually given as needed at mealtimes and bedtime, and not more frequently than every three to four hours.
  
  2. If your blood glucose is over 300 mg/dL at least twice in a row (checking at your regular times), also check for ketones in your urine. Use the ketone test strips (such as Keto-Diastix and Chemstrip uGK) from the pharmacy. Follow the instructions exactly -- collect urine in the sample cup, dip the strip in the urine, and wait 60 seconds before matching the strip to the color chart to see if you have ketones.
  
  3a. If ketones are present and you are not vomiting (throwing up):

  • Take your correction dose if you haven't already done so.
  • Drink plenty of water.
  • Recheck your urine for ketones every two to four hours until they are negative.

  3b. If ketones are present and you are vomiting (throwing up):

  • Call your doctor or diabetes educator for advice.
  • Take your correction dose if you haven't already done so.
  • Drink plenty of water.
  • Recheck your urine for ketones every two to four hours until they are negative.

  4. Report your high blood glucose reading to your doctor at the next scheduled phone call or visit.