According to the American Diabetes Association, hyperglycemia is the medical term for too much glucose (sugar) in the blood. Hyperglycemia has several causes that are mostly centered on insulin. If hyperglycemia goes untreated, it can lead to serious health conditions like stroke, heart and kidney disease, coma and vision impairment. Common symptoms of hyperglycemia are excessive thirst, frequent urination and fatigue.
Type 1 Diabetes
According to the Mayo Clinic, type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition with no cure. This disease is a result of the pancreas producing little to no insulin. With very little or no insulin available, the body is unable to convert the glucose into energy, which causes a high level of glucose to build up within the blood.
Type 2 Diabetes
According to the American Diabetes Association, in type 2 diabetes, the body produces enough insulin but fat, muscle and other cells somehow build up a resistance to the insulin. This cellular resistance causes a buildup of glucose in the blood. A common risk factor for type 2 diabetes is obesity because excess fat can interfere with the body's ability to properly use insulin according to Medline Plus.
Medications
Certain types of medications like corticosteroids can cause a process known as gluconoegenesis which is an increased production of glucose. A common corticosteroid is prednisone which is used to treat such conditions as arthritis and allergic reactions. According to the Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center, the blood glucose levels will return to normal once medications are stopped.
Total Parenteral Nutrition
According to the Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center, Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) contains high concentrations of glucose, and can possibly cause high levels of glucose in the body. TPN is a solution that provides all the daily nutrition for a patient, and it is typically administered through an IV. According to the Merck Manual, TPN is typically given to individuals suffering from gastrointestinal tract problems like Crohn's disease.
Organ Damage
Injuries, diseases like cancer, and failure of the kidneys or pancreas can cause a disruption of insulin levels in the body. These abnormal levels of insulin can cause high amounts of glucose in the blood because the cells won't have enough insulin to convert the glucose into energy.
