Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, is an onset symptom of diabetes and refers to elevated blood sugar levels. Hyperglycemia can be prevented by proper diet, medication, and control of levels.
What is hyperglycemia?
Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, occurs in people with diabetes. Many causes can lead to hyperglycemia in people with diabetes; among them is the choice of food consumed or physical activity, diseases, medications, or inadequate administration of medications to reduce blood glucose levels. It is very important to treat hyperglycemia because untreated hyperglycemia can have very serious consequences and lead to severe associated symptoms; for example, diabetic coma can lead to direct admission to the emergency room. In the long term, persistent hyperglycemia, even if not particularly severe, can affect the eyes, kidneys, nerves, or heart.
Causes
The causes of hyperglycemia are directly related to the production of the hormone insulin or its maintenance in the blood. During digestion, the body breaks carbohydrates, such as from bread, sugar, rice, pasta, down into different sugar molecules. One of these molecules is glucose, one of the most important sources of energy for the body. Glucose is scattered into the blood immediately after eating. But without the help of insulin, which is produced by the pancreas, the body’s cells cannot absorb the glucose. When more glucose is absorbed, the body makes more insulin to adequately deliver the sugar into the cells. The blood sugar is directed into the cells until the level in the blood returns to normal. Diabetes changes the effects of insulin on the body. Either the body does not produce enough insulin to process the blood sugar, or the body no longer responds normally to the hormone, which also causes hyperglycemia.
Symptoms, complaints, and signs
Hyperglycemia can cause very different symptoms. When blood glucose levels are elevated, the first symptoms are fatigue and exhaustion. Patients often feel listless and have difficulty getting out of bed in the morning. In addition, it is difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. In most cases, there is also an increased appetite and excessive thirst. As a result, those affected have to urinate frequently, and often only small amounts of urine are excreted. Hyperglycemia can also affect the skin, leading to dry and scaly skin. Wound healing is usually impaired, and injuries repeatedly open up. In addition, there is the typical itching of the skin, which occurs mainly on the arms and back. Elevated blood sugar levels can also cause headaches, nausea and vomiting. There is an increased susceptibility to colds and other infections. Externally, hyperglycemia may be manifested by reddened skin and a scaly scalp. Due to the ketones in the urine, the breath takes on an acetone odor reminiscent of nail polish remover. The eyes are often red or black rims form around the eyes. In a severe course, the patient loses consciousness and goes into a coma.
Diagnosis and course
People with diabetes temporarily suffer from hyperglycemia. After an appropriate diagnosis of diabetes, the physician will determine the best blood glucose levels for the patient. Through medication and diet, the patient tries to maintain these levels. The closer he is to this level, the better he will feel. To regulate blood glucose levels, people with diabetes will also be able to check their levels daily at home. Special devices exist for this purpose. This way, if there are signs of hyperglycemia, it can be counteracted directly. A further test is usually carried out three to four times by the doctor in the practice. It establishes how consistent the values of blood glucose were in the previous months and can be an authoritative guide to whether the patient has hyperglycemia “under control.”
Complications
The elevated blood glucose level can cause a variety of symptoms and complications. In most cases, the affected person must consume an increased amount of fluid to compensate for the excess sugar and suffers from frequent urination. This complaint can also have a negative effect on the psyche, leading to depression or other psychological upsets.The patient’s skin and mouth become dry and most sufferers experience vomiting and nausea. It is not uncommon for dizziness and loss of consciousness to occur as well. Due to a fall during a fainting spell, the affected person may possibly injure himself. Furthermore, mental confusion may also occur, accompanied by visual disturbances. In the worst case, the affected person falls into a so-called diabetic coma. Hyperglycemia can be treated relatively well. In most cases, no medical treatment is necessary, so that the affected person can counteract the symptoms through a healthy lifestyle. Without treatment, hyperglycemia can lead to organ damage and eventually death. No other complications occur, and life expectancy is not usually reduced by hyperglycemia.
When should you see a doctor?
Symptoms such as frequent urination, increased thirst, and dry skin indicate diabetes. If symptoms persist over a long period of time, a doctor must be consulted. If further signs of hyperglycemia occur, such as attacks of weakness, visual disturbances or confusion, medical advice is required. Diabetics who eat an unbalanced diet and maintain a generally unhealthy lifestyle are particularly susceptible to hyperglycemia. Affected individuals with the above symptoms should see their family doctor immediately and also consult a nutritionist. In the case of pronounced symptoms, the prescribed medication usually also needs to be adjusted. Often the medication is poorly adjusted or the individual diet must be adapted. If the sufferer experiences signs of a heart attack or falls into a diabetic coma, the emergency physician must be called. First aid measures must be administered until medical help arrives. Afterwards, the affected person requires a comprehensive examination in the hospital. The cause of the collapse must be determined and corrected to prevent further complications.
Treatment and therapy
The definitive treatments for hyperglycemia are in the patient’s own hands and must be carried out daily. It consists largely of a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Physical activity and sports usually have a very positive effect on blood glucose levels.In addition, prescribed medications should always be taken as prescribed by the doctor. To avoid hyperglycemia, a diet plan must also be followed. This consists primarily of a significant reduction in sugary foods. At any uncertainty about blood glucose levels or small signs of hyperglycemia, the patient must measure his values to counteract them in time. Independent injection of insulin into the bloodstream may also be necessary if the body’s own production is no longer sufficient. Serious effects of hyperglycemia can lead to the emergency room. There, dehydration is often combated, as well as a deficiency in the supply of electrolytes to the cells and the direct administration of insulin into the bloodstream.
Outlook and prognosis
The prognosis of hyperglycemia is determined according to a patient’s individual health criteria as well as his or her cooperation to improve his or her health status. Underlying hyperglycemia is diabetes. According to current medical treatment options, this has a chronic course. Despite all efforts, there is currently no cure. Nevertheless, by restructuring their lifestyle and diet, patients can achieve significant relief from their symptoms and regulate their hyperglycemia on their own. Normally, diagnosed diabetes leads to a long-term therapy with a form of drug treatment. If the medication is discontinued within the therapy taking place, an immediate relapse of the symptoms is to be expected. New symptoms develop and there is an additional threat of a comatose state of health. Moreover, without treatment, the life expectancy of the affected person is shortened. If the treatment plan is adhered to and the patient’s living conditions are changed, the prognosis is good. This is especially true if no other diseases are present and there are no complications. If secondary symptoms or secondary diseases develop, the overall prognosis deteriorates, since some diseases are considered incurable.In particular, impaired vision or organ damage worsens the patient’s overall health and has a negative impact on overall life expectancy.
Prevention
To prevent hyperglycemia, the patient should primarily adhere to his or her diet plan. For people with diabetes, when and how much they eat is especially important to control their blood glucose levels. Depending on the treatment, blood glucose levels must be measured independently on a regular basis. A change in the dosage of medication is usually necessary when the scope of physical activities changes.
Follow-up care
Aftercare of hyperglycemia consists mainly of taking preventive action and preventing further hyperglycemia. For this purpose, the necessary medication should be taken regularly and according to the doctor’s orders. The medication should always be at hand, wherever you are. It is also advisable to inform friends, acquaintances, colleagues and, if necessary, other people about the risk of hyperglycemia, so that in an emergency there is clarity and correct treatment can be given more quickly. The people close to the patient should be made aware of the symptoms of hyperglycemia. An individual emergency plan can also be drawn up. In addition, closer attention should be paid to proper nutrition and adequate exercise. Particular attention should be paid to adequate fluid intake on a daily basis. In everyday life, stressful situations should be minimized if possible, or in the best case avoided altogether. Excitement causes the release of the hormone adrenaline, which additionally raises blood sugar levels. Good general health should always be strived for and infections should be recognized and treated quickly. Infections lead to an increase in blood glucose levels. In addition, regular and conscientious blood glucose monitoring should take place. The measuring device used for this purpose should also be checked regularly to ensure that it is functioning properly, in order to avoid incorrect measurement results.
What you can do yourself
In hyperglycemia, there is an increased concentration of sugar in the blood of the affected person due to a lack of insulin. To counteract this elevated blood sugar, the affected person must follow a strict diet, which has been previously discussed with a doctor and/or nutritionist. Foods and beverages that contain a high proportion of sugar should be avoided. According to the glycemic index, foods such as white flour or fruit juices have a blood sugar rising effect. On the other hand, the consumption of legumes and nuts are recommended, as they increase the blood sugar level only slightly. Adequate exercise through sports can additionally complement this diet. Often hyperglycemia is a symptom of diabetes disease. In this case, the affected person must measure and document his blood glucose level at a given and always the same time each day. In addition, the affected person must regularly inject himself with insulin using an insulin pen. An alternative is an insulin pump, which the patient always carries with him and which injects insulin independently on a regular basis. Hyperglycemia can also be triggered by other factors. One cause of hyperglycemia is stress. In this case, the affected person should take it easy, get regular rest, and make sure to get a sufficient amount of sleep.
