When you eat carbohydrates, glucose enters your bloodstream and travels to the cells, providing them with energy. Normally, your glucose levels are controlled by a pancreatic hormone called insulin. Hyperglycemia, also referred to as high blood sugar, is a condition characterized by abnormally elevated levels of glucose in the blood.
Types of Testing
Blood glucose testing can be done in two ways: fasting blood glucose and oral glucose tolerance test. Fasting blood glucose is a blood sample used to test the amount of glucose in your blood after a 8 to 10 hour period of fasting, according to Lab Tests Online. Fasting blood glucose levels between 70 to 99 mg/dL of blood are considered normal. If your blood glucose ranges from 100 to 125 mg/dL, you are considered pre-diabetic. If your blood glucose is 126 mg/dL or higher on more than one test, you are considered diabetic.
An oral glucose tolerance test is given after the consumption of a drink containing 75 g of glucose. It is used to test your response to glucose. If your glucose levels are less than 140 mg/dL after ingestion of the glucose drink, you are considered to have normal glucose tolerance. Glucose levels between 141 and 200 mg/dL indicate impaired glucose tolerance and levels above 200 mg/dL indicate diabetes.
Causes
Most cases of high blood sugar in teens are a result of diabetes. Slightly elevated blood glucose levels can also occur as a result of excessive food intake, severe trauma, hyperthyroidism and certain medications, such as birth control pills and corticosteroids.
Symptoms
At first, high blood sugar may not cause a teen to experience any symptoms. As blood sugars remain elevated, it can cause frequent urination, increased thirst, fatigue, headache and blurred vision, according to MayoClinic.com. As blood sugar levels further increase, hyperglycemia results in abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, dry mouth, weakness, confusion and sweet-smelling breath. Eventually, high blood sugar can lead to a coma.
Treatment
Hyperglycemia can often be corrected with physical activity. When you exercise, your body uses glucose as energy, reducing the amounts circulating in your bloodstream. Once blood sugar levels are returned to normal, it is important to properly manage your blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, you should take any medication as directed and make sure you are following the proper nutrition plan. You should also check your blood glucose levels regularly.
If you are not diabetic, you should work with your doctor to determine the underlying cause of hyperglycemia. Further treatment will depend on the condition causing your blood sugar levels to rise.
Considerations
Chronic high blood sugar is the cause of most of the complications associated with diabetes. If blood sugar levels are not properly controlled, hyperglycemia can lead to kidney damage, nerve damage and vision problems. Elevated blood sugar levels can also lead to heart disease, increased risk of infections and delayed wound healing.
