What Is Hyperglycemia? High Blood Sugar Signs, Symptoms, & More.

Have you recently experienced a rapid heartbeat, fruity breath, anxiety, or any other mysterious symptoms that don’t seem like they’re related? You may be suffering from hyperglycemia. 

Hyperglycemia is described simply by medical professionals as high blood sugar. But it’s much more complex than that. It’s most often associated as an indicator or side effect of diabetes.

It can also lead to lots of other health problems, such as cardiovascular issues and kidney disease, if you don’t recognize your symptoms, diagnose them, and treat them right away. 

On the other hand, if you’re merely concerned about developing hyperglycemia or have a history of it in your family, there are specific steps you can take to prevent it from taking hold of your body.

In this in-depth guide to hyperglycemia, we discuss the causes and symptoms of this condition, and also how to prevent it, and treatment options.

What Causes It?

Several factors can cause your blood sugar to dramatically rise. The reason why it affects diabetics specifically is that diabetics are unable to produce enough of their own insulin to process glucose.

Insulin is a hormone released by the pancreas to break down glucose, which is a form of sugar. 

That’s why people who suffer from diabetes must take insulin regularly: they are unable to make it on their own. 

What causes the body to be unable to produce enough insulin? One reason may be that the body is overloaded with sugar over and over again, to the point where the pancreas can no longer keep up.

Obesity and lack of exercise often worsen the issue. 

Alternatively, some people may inherit the condition from someone in their family. 

Regardless of the reason why diabetes develops, your blood sugar may spike as a result of one or more of the following factors:  

Sugar and Carbohydrate-Rich Diet

If you eat a diet that consists of mostly sugar and carbs, like pasta and grains, then you put your body at risk of becoming overloaded with glucose. 

Not Exercising

According to John Muir Health, when you don’t exercise your muscle cells become desensitized to insulin. This means that your body becomes less capable of processing glucose. 

Illness

When you’re sick, your body releases hormones to try to fight off the infection. During this process, your blood sugar rises. This is dangerous for people with diabetes, as it can trigger hyperglycemia.

Missing Doses Of Medication

Diabetics often take medication to help maintain their insulin levels. When they miss or forget to take their regular dosage, their blood sugar may spike as a result. In this case, diabetics should consult with their doctor on what to do to compensate for the missed medication. 

Taking A Medication That Raises Your Blood Sugar

There are several different types of drugs that can set off your hyperglycemia. Among them are steroids, antidepressants, birth control, and high blood pressure medication. Diabetics should always ask their doctor what drugs they can safely take that won’t raise their blood sugar. 

What Are The Symptoms?

Some of the symptoms of hyperglycemia are innocuous enough that you might not notice them at first. Or you may chalk them up to what you ate or drank that day. The more time that passes without treating the root cause of these symptoms, the more intense they will get. 

Below is a list of the side effects you may experience as a result of hyperglycemia.

Frequent Urination

If you find yourself having to go to the bathroom more than 6-8 times in a single day, that is called frequent urination. 

Thirst

Everyone gets thirsty now and then; it’s a normal condition of the human body. But if you find yourself feeling thirsty all the time, and nothing brings you relief, it could be a symptom of a bigger problem. 

Fatigue

Fatigue is not simply feeling tired. It’s a lack of energy, both mentally and physically. And you often feel this way whether or not you got plenty of sleep the night before.

Headache

A constant headache is annoying and irritating. When it gets painful enough, it can even prevent you from performing your daily activities or sour your mood. It is also a symptom of high blood sugar.

Blurred Vision

Blurred vision is always perturbing. If you ever experience it, you should see a doctor right away. Ask a family member or friend to drive you if possible so that you don’t risk getting into an accident with your impaired sight.

Nausea

Nausea is the feeling you get when your stomach is upset. If you feel it all the time, even when you haven’t eaten anything spicy or that you’re allergic to, then you should consult your doctor. 

Vomiting

Vomiting for no apparent reason is one of the worst feelings, right up there with nausea. The reason could be hyperglycemia.

Abdominal Pain

Your abdomen is one of the worst places to feel pain because sometimes even doctors have trouble figuring out what the cause of it is. If you’re a woman, many physicians might blame menstrual cramps for your pain. But if you’re experiencing any of the other symptoms on this list, ask your doctor to perform a glucose test to check for hyperglycemia.

Shortness Of Breath

Shortness of breath is not just associated with panic attacks and lung conditions like asthma. It’s also a side effect of high blood sugar.

Dry Mouth

This symptom may be the reason why you feel so thirsty all the time but can find no relief. You may have high blood sugar, which may be causing your mouth to stop producing saliva.

Weakness

Weakness is different from fatigue in that you don’t just feel tired: you feel like you don’t even have the strength to move. 

Confusion

When your blood sugar level gets way too high, you may start experiencing more serious side effects in your brain, such as confusion. You may not be aware of your surroundings, or you may not remember where you are. In this case, you should go to the emergency room immediately.

Coma
A coma is perhaps the scariest symptom of hyperglycemia. It is a state of prolonged unconsciousness caused by, among other things, too much glucose in your blood.

How Do I Prevent It?

You may not have hyperglycemia yet, but should it still be a cause for concern? 

It definitely should be if you have a history of diabetes in your family. On the other hand, if you are pre-diabetic - meaning your blood sugar levels are high, but not high enough to qualify as diabetes - it’s crucial that you take action now. You could still save yourself from spiraling into full-blown diabetes. 

Lastly, if you’re already diabetic and trying to prevent your blood sugar from spiking, you can still help your body avoid hyperglycemia with the following preventative measures: 

Cut Out Sugar

Cutting out sugar is extremely difficult because it’s in just about everything we eat in an American diet. Cake, cookies, ice cream, sweet breakfast cereal, sodas, and all the other foods and beverages you consume that have high amounts of sugar in them, all need to go. Watch out for other ingredients like high fructose corn syrup, as this will also raise your blood sugar dramatically. 

Cut Down On Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates include sugar, but also starches and fiber. Try to cut down on potatoes, pasta, bread, and other carbs that raise your glucose levels. Instead, look for foods that have a low glycemic index, meaning they impact your blood sugar very little or not at all. 

Take Your Insulin As Directed

If you are already diabetic, make sure you take your insulin and any other diabetic medication you’ve been prescribed as directed by your doctor. Don’t skip any doses, and have a plan for what to do if you forget to take one.

Stay Active

Exercising helps improve your muscles’ sensitivity to insulin. Hit the gym, go to the park, or do some simple exercises at home. The important thing is that you stay active and get your muscles moving. 

Strengthen Your Immune System

Strengthening your immune system will help protect you from illness and infections that could raise your glucose levels. Take Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and zinc to support your immune health. 

How Do I Treat Hyperglycemia?

When you find yourself suffering from the symptoms of hyperglycemia, there are a few things you can do to manage them. 

But first, it’s important to note that if you experience any severe symptoms, such as blurred vision, weakness, abdominal pain, shortness of breath, or confusion, you should go to the hospital right away. Don’t put it off, or you may find yourself falling into a coma or damaging your vital organs.

Avoid Foods And Beverages That Raise Your Blood Sugar

This step is a no-brainer. If you feel sick and fatigued, your heart is beating rapidly, or you feel any other side effects of hyperglycemia, avoid any foods and beverages that will raise your blood sugar. This includes sodas, desserts, bread, pasta, and dried fruit. 

Drink Lots Of Water

When you have hyperglycemia, you can get dehydrated quickly. Drinking water will keep your blood and tissues hydrated, as well as help flush glucose out of your body.

Talk To Your Doctor About Adjusting Your Medication

One cause of your hyperglycemia spike is your medication is not providing you with enough insulin. Talk to your doctor if you continue to experience high blood sugar symptoms even while you’re taking your medication as directed. They may be able to adjust your dosage for you or prescribe a different, more effective drug.

Conclusion: Don’t Dismiss Hyperglycemia Symptoms

The tricky thing about some hyperglycemia symptoms is they are the same side effects as countless other conditions and illnesses. Don’t dismiss them, especially if you have a family history of diabetes, are pre-diabetic, or have already fully developed it. 

With a proper diet and lifestyle choices, as well as the proper medication, you can beat hyperglycemia - or even prevent it from happening.