Hyperglycemia describes a condition in which you have high levels of glucose, or sugar, in your blood. If you have diabetes, you may develop hyperglycemia owing to illness, medications, stress and misuse of insulin. If you have hyperglycemia, prompt treatment is necessary to avoid heart disease, nerve or kidney damage, skin problems and other complications. Talk with your doctor about the best way to manage your blood sugar and what you can do to prevent hyperglycemia.
Nonmedical Treatment
You can sometimes treat hyperglycemia with diet. Dietary modifications may be necessary and your doctor can recommend a dietitian with whom you can work. Exercise can also help to treat hyperglycemia. According to the American Diabetes Association, exercise can lower blood glucose. You should not exercise if your blood sugar is over 240 mg/dL. When your sugar is this high, you may have ketones in your urine. Exercising when ketones are present can cause your blood sugar to increase even more.
Medical Treatment
If your hyperglycemia is due to diabetes, you may need to begin using insulin or adjust your insulin dosage if you currently take the medication. A short-acting dose of insulin or a supplemental dose of insulin may be all you need. Your doctor can evaluate your hyperglycemia along with records of your daily blood sugar levels. If your hyperglycemia is persistent, you may need tight diabetes control. This kind of control involves getting your blood sugar as close to nondiabetic levels as possible, explains the American Diabetic Association. You may need to give yourself multiple insulin injections daily or use an insulin pump. Talk with your doctor if your blood sugar is consistently elevated.
Diet
A diabetic diet can help control symptoms of hyperglycemia and get your blood sugar back to normal, even if you're not diabetic. Chemocare.com suggests limiting carbohydrates, both simple and complex, including fruit, pasta and cereal. Carbohydrates have a noticeable impact on blood sugar levels, and if you have hyperglycemia, your diet should contain about 50 percent carbohydrates. Protein should make up 15 to 20 percent of you diet, and you should consume fresh vegetables and fiber. Up to 55 g of fiber daily is recommended, because fiber helps lower blood sugar. Healthy protein and fiber choices for people with hyperglycemia are grilled chicken, lean meats, fish, oatmeal and whole grains. Refined grains like white bread and white rice can raise blood sugar, so whole grains are a better choice.
Considerations
Check your blood sugar often if you have diabetes or a history of high blood sugar. If you participate in physical activity, you may need to change your insulin dosage to control your blood sugar. Talk with your doctor about the best way to manage your hyperglycemia and work with a nutritionist to develop a meal plan that meets your nutritional needs while helping control blood glucose.
