Hyperglycemia: Understanding High Blood Sugar, Its Causes, Symptoms & Management

by Yashoda Hopsitals | Apr 16, 2025 | General Medicine | 0 5

1. Introduction

2. Key Blood Sugar Levels

9. Seeking Appointment

10. Conclusion

Hyperglycemia, or elevated blood sugar, is a condition defined by an excess of glucose in blood plasma. Primarily a feature of diabetes mellitus, it may also arise in individuals without diabetes under various circumstances. Understanding hyperglycemia is essential to prevent complications and sustain personal health, a matter of crucial importance for individuals suffering from diabetes.

Hyperglycemia: What Is It?

The body’s primary energy source is glucose, which is a simple sugar. In normal circumstances, insulin (a hormone produced by the pancreas) will act like a key, allowing glucose to enter cells and be used as energy. Hyperglycemia occurs when either insufficient insulin is produced (Type 1 diabetes), when the cells become resistant to the effect of insulin (Type 2 diabetes), or when the liver produces too much glucose. As a result, glucose builds up in the blood, causing hyperglycemia.

Take control of your blood sugar!

Consult Our Specialists Today.

Normal Blood Sugar Levels

Steadily knowing about the normal blood sugar levels will go a long way toward maintaining good health and avoiding distinct cases of diabetes. Here are some typical ranges for blood sugar levels from fasting, random, and postprandial checks after meals:

Fasting Blood Sugar: Fasting blood sugar level is generally determined after 8 hours of fasting.
- Normal: 70 to 99 mg/dL (3.9 to 5.5 mmol/L)
- Prediabetes: 100 to 125 mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L)
- Diabetes: 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L) or higher
Random Blood Sugar: Anytime blood sugar could be taken with no application of the last meal. Any measurement on or above 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) is generally accepted as diabetes, especially in the setting of symptoms. It is difficult to assign a single “normal” number since this depends heavily on when the person last ate.
Postprandial Blood Sugar: Postprandial, which is measured two hours after eating a meal.
- Normal: Less than 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L)
- Prediabetes: 140 to 199 mg/dL (7.8 to 11.0 mmol/L)
- Diabetes: 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or higher

Hyperglycemia Symptoms

The symptoms of hyperglycemia depend on the duration and intensity of the elevation of blood glucose. The common high blood sugar symptoms are:

Frequent Urination (Polyuria): At very high blood glucose levels, the reabsorption capacity of the kidney gets saturated, and glucose absorption into urine causes filtered water to be lost through osmosis, increasing urine volume.
Increased Thirst (Polydipsia): The polyuria causes the loss of high amounts of fluid, which in turn leads to dehydration. The thirst mechanism is triggered to replenish the lost fluids.
Blurred Vision: High blood glucose levels alter the fluid contents within the lens of the eyes, causing a change in the shape and refractive index of the lens. This alteration of refractive index leads to blurred vision. High sugar can also damage small blood vessels in the retina.
Fatigue: With insulin resistance/deficiency, glucose is not suitably available as energy for the working of the body, thereby disabling proper energy synthesis. Even if there is enough glucose within the bloodstream, its entry is blocked from the cells. Hence, there is a state of tiredness and weakness.
Headache: Dehydration as an aftermath of hyperglycemia may incite headaches. Moreover, fluctuations in blood sugar highly influence the brain and can lead to headaches. High glucose can also inflame the body.
Unexplained Weight Loss (Mostly Type 1): Inadequate insulin with the result that the body resorts to using muscle and fat for energy, lipolysis, and proteolysis being the actual events. Therefore, the body simply cannot use glucose for fuel.
Slow-Healing Wounds: High sugar adversely affects the functionality of white blood cells responsible for healing wounds and fighting infections. They also impede blood vessels that supply the area with blood needed for tissue repair, including nutrients and oxygen. Otherwise, high glucose disrupts collagen formation.
Dry and Itchy Skin: Due to severe polyuria, frequent loss of fluids leads to skin dryness and itching. High blood sugar can also adversely affect the nerves and halt sweat production, creating a situation for dry skin.
Frequent Infections: High blood sugar levels disrupt the normal function of neutrophils in white blood cells, rendering the immune system weak during bacterial infections. Bacteria and fungi find high glucose concentrations favorable for growth.

Hyperglycemia Sings & Symptoms

High Blood Sugar Symptoms?

Don’t Wait! Enquire Today!

Hyperglycemia Causes

Hyperglycemia can be a result of various factors, such as:

Diabetes Mellitus:

Type 1 Diabetes: Autoimmune destruction of the beta cells that make insulin constitutes type 1 diabetes. Blood glucose levels rise because insulin production is almost absent or greatly reduced.
Type 2 Diabetes: This includes two major metabolic problems: insulin resistance (the inability of body cells to respond to insulin) and relative insulin deficiency (the failure of the pancreas to produce enough insulin).
Gestational Diabetes: This type of diabetes occurs during pregnancy and is typically able to be resolved post-delivery, appearing due to hormonal changes in the body that interfere with insulin action. It presents a higher chance of undergoing type 2 diabetes later in life.

Lifestyle Factors:

Diet: Foods high in glucose, especially refined carbohydrates such as white bread, pasta, and sweetened soda, can produce a sharp increase in blood glucose levels.
Lack of Physical Activity & Overweight: Exercise helps maintain insulin sensitivity, allowing glucose to be used efficiently by the cell; lack of exercise increases the weight and leads to increased insulin resistance and hyperglycemia.
Stress: Under stress, increased levels of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline are released, causing elevations in blood sugar by signaling the liver for glucose release.
Dehydration: High levels of dehydration will permit hyperglycemia by increasing blood glucose concentration.

Medical Conditions:

Pancreatitis: Damage to the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas due to inflammation may interfere with glucose production, resulting in hyperglycemia.
Cushing’s Syndrome: The excessive production of cortisol causes this disorder, which in turn elevates blood glucose levels.
Certain Infections: Infections may stimulate the release of stress hormones and inflammation mediators, thereby increasing the levels of glucose in circulation.

Medications:

Steroids: Corticosteroids such as prednisone will raise blood sugar levels primarily through the promotion of glucose production and reduced sensitivity to insulin.
Certain Antipsychotics: Some antipsychotic agents may change insulin sensitivity and influence glucose metabolism, leading to hyperglycemia.
Immunosuppressants: These medications raise blood sugar levels when used to prevent rejection of transplanted organs.

Miscellaneous Factors:

Illness: Any illness—from a simple cold onward—will trigger the secretion of stress hormones and inflammatory mediators that can induce hyperglycemia.
Surgery: The stress of surgery leads to a temporary rise in blood sugar levels.
Dawn Phenomenon: There will be a rise in blood sugar during the morning hours, usually due to the opposing action of such hormones as growth hormone and cortisol against insulin.

Hyperglycemia Complications

High blood sugar levels can cause various complications, including microvascular issues like retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy, as well as macrovascular issues like coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral vascular diseases, as explained below:

Neuropathy: High blood sugar levels harm nerves throughout the body, especially peripheral nerves. Damage to these nerves disturbs nerve conduction mechanisms, resulting in symptoms that include numbness, tingling, pain, and weakness, often in the hands and feet. The autonomic kind may involve internal organs, affecting digestion, bladder function, and even erectile function.
Retinopathy: High blood sugar levels produce damage to the small blood vessels that supply the retina, a layer at the back of the eye consisting of light-sensitive cells. This damage may lead to bleeding, fluid leakage, and the growth of abnormal blood vessels, causing blurred vision, loss of vision, and finally blindness.
Nephropathy: High blood sugar levels cause damage to the delicate blood vessels of the filtering units of the kidneys (glomeruli). This damage hinders the kidney’s ability to filter the toxins out of the blood, leading to chronic kidney disease and, ultimately, kidney failure.
Cardiovascular Diseases: Hyperglycemia, over time, leads to injury to blood vessels and then to atherosclerosis (plaque lining of arteries). This damages the heart, causes strokes, and causes peripheral artery disease (PAD). Glucose, these days, is regarded as the main contributor to inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which damage the walls of blood vessels further.
Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA): With a very short supply of insulin, glucose cannot enter the cells to provide the energy needed. So, fats are converted into energy with acidic by-products, called ketone bodies. They gather in the blood and dangerously acidify it. Along with that, dehydration and electrolyte depletion take place, making this state a very precarious one, leading to coma or death if untreated.
Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State (HHS): HHS is extremely high glucose levels, generally more than 600 mg/dL, and very dehydrated. HHS, unlike DKA, is not associated with significant ketone production. The high glucose concentrations extract water from cells, which causes fluid loss in different tissues and organs, leading to severe dehydration and electrolyte dysfunction, and sometimes coma or death. This situation generally occurs in type 2 diabetes.
Skin Disorders: Hyperglycemia affects the immune system, thereby making the skin prone to bacterial and fungal infections. Dehydration coupled with neuropathy causes dry and itchy skin. Further hyperglycemia supports the growth of certain microorganisms, leading to additional infections.
Foot Problems: Loss of sensation due to neuropathy together with diminished blood circulation from damaged blood vessels increases the danger of foot problems. Decreased ability to feel would mean injuries may go undetected. Poor circulation would mean slow healing of such injuries and increased chances of infections. Such infections could lead to foot ulcers and even amputations.

Hyperglycemia Diagnosis

Hyperglycemia can be diagnosed through the following blood tests:

Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS): The blood sugar level is determined after an overnight fast.
Random Blood Sugar (RBS): Blood sugar level is measured any time of the day.
A1C Test: Average blood sugar level is measured over the past 2-3 months.
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT): Blood sugar levels are monitored after the ingestion of a sugary drink.

Concerned about your blood sugar levels?

Book an Appointment Now!

Hyperglycemia Management

The hyperglycemia treatment options consist of medications, regular monitoring, and lifestyle changes.

Medications:

Insulin Therapy: Required for type 1 diabetes and sometimes for type 2 diabetes.
Oral Medications: There are medications available that improve insulin sensitivity, enhance insulin secretion, or decrease glucose production by the liver.

Regular Monitoring:

Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG): Regular checks of blood sugar with the aid of a glucometer.
A1C Tests: Regular A1C tests help to understand longer-term blood sugar control.
Regular Check-Ups: Regular visits to the doctor help to check for general health and modify treatment if needed.

Lifestyle Changes:

Prioritize a Balanced Diet: Emphasize whole grains, fiber-rich vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Restrict processed foods, sugary beverages, and refined carbohydrates.
Control Carbohydrate Intake: Regulate portions of carbohydrates and consume complex carbohydrates as opposed to simple sugars to avoid sudden blood sugar spikes.
Engage in Regular Physical Activity: Plan for a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week, distributed throughout the week.
Maintain Healthy Weight: Even a small amount of weight loss has the potential to make a huge difference in insulin sensitivity and blood glucose control.
Check Blood Glucose Levels Often: Check blood sugar levels with a glucometer and observe patterns, making diet or activity adjustments as needed.
Drink Enough Water: Ensure adequate water intake during the day to assist the kidneys in removing excess glucose.
Manage Stress Effectively: Use stress-reducing practices such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga, since stress tends to increase blood sugar.
Prioritize Quality Sleep: Get 7-9 quality hours of sleep each night since poor sleep can influence hormone levels and blood sugar management.
Limit Alcohol Consumption: Alcohol tends to disrupt blood sugar management, so limit consumption or, better yet, avoid it.
Stop Smoking: Smoking exacerbates insulin resistance and enhances the risk of complications from diabetes.
Hydration: Drink water throughout the day.

Key Differences

Hypoglycemia vs Hyperglycemia

These are two contrasting states regarding blood glucose levels. Hypoglycemia refers to a state of low blood sugar, usually with symptoms of sweating, dizziness, and confusion, whereas hyperglycemia denotes a high blood sugar state that triggers increased thirst, frequent urination, and fatigue. Both states are crucial and require immediate attention to avert various complications.

Hyperglycemia vs Diabetes

Hyperglycemia is a medical condition characterized by high blood sugar levels, a symptom; diabetes, on the other hand, is a chronic condition defined by persistently high blood sugar levels. In other words, hyperglycemia is a fairly major feature of diabetes, but it may also occur from different causes, such as stress or illness, for a limited period. Diabetes, whether it is type 1, type 2, or gestational, is a long-lasting disease during which the body cannot seem to cope with regulating blood glucose adequately, thus resulting in hyperglycemia either from time to time or on a permanent basis.

When to Seek Medical Assistance?

Immediate medical assistance for hyperglycemia is needed if you see the following symptoms:

Severe symptoms: Confusion, disorientation, seizures, and loss of consciousness.
Diabetic ketoacidosis signs: Fruity-smelling breath, nausea, vomiting, and rapid breathing.
Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state signs: extreme thirst, dry mouth, weakness, and blurred vision.
Persistently high blood sugar: Despite treatment, blood sugar remains elevated.
Unexplained weight loss.
Difficulty breathing or chest pain.

Conclusion

Hyperglycemia is a condition that must be handled with caution to avoid complications. With knowledge of the causes, symptoms, and treatment options, patients can take preventive measures to manage their blood sugar levels and stay healthy. Proper monitoring, healthy living, and compliance with medical recommendations are the keys to controlling hyperglycemia and staying healthy.

Yashoda Hospitals provides comprehensive treatment for hyperglycemia through its Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology. Skilled endocrinologists use advanced diagnostic equipment and treatment protocols to treat endocrine disorders like diabetes. They emphasize personalized treatment regimens, lifestyle changes, drug management, and ongoing monitoring to regulate blood sugar levels efficiently and prevent complications. Yashoda Hospitals is committed to a multidisciplinary approach for comprehensive care.

Have any questions or concerns about your health? We’re here to help! Call us at +918929964241 for expert advice and support.