A form of sugar called glucose circulates in your bloodstream and provides your body with vital energy when it's absorbed into your cells. If your cells don't pull in glucose properly, you can develop a condition called hyperglycemia. If your body is habitually unable to control your glucose levels, you may have the dangerous blood sugar disorder called diabetes.
Basics
Your body gathers its glucose supply from foods in your diet that contain carbohydrates. When you digest these foods, their glucose content passes from your small intestine to your bloodstream. To move your blood glucose into your cells, your body releases a hormone called insulin from your pancreas, which sits near your liver. Once it's in your bloodstream, insulin makes a chemical "handshake" with your cells and tells them to let glucose enter their interiors.
Blood Glucose Levels
Normally, the actions of insulin stop your blood glucose levels from rising too high. However, some people don't respond properly to insulin's glucose-controlling signals, while others don't produce enough insulin to move adequate amounts of glucose from their bloodstreams. Your doctor can check your glucose levels with a test called a fasting glucose test. People with adequate glucose control typically have a tested blood level that's less than 100mg/dL. People with partially impaired glucose control have testing results that range from 100 to 126mg/dL. People who twice receive fasting glucose results that fall above 126mg/dL have diabetes.
Hyperglycemia
Hyperglycemia is the formal term used to describe high blood glucose. People with diabetes regularly run a risk for the onset of this condition. Type 1 diabetics, who don't produce enough insulin internally, can develop hyperglycemia if they fail to give themselves enough insulin or any other diabetes medication. Type 2 diabetics, who may have normal insulin levels, develop hyperglycemia when their bodies don't respond to insulin's effects. Both types of diabetics can develop hyperglycemia if they don't exercise enough, eat too much food, experience an illness or experience various forms of psychological stress.
Considerations
Potential symptoms of high blood glucose include fatigue, unusual thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision, increased susceptibility to infection, dry skin, dry mouth and weight loss that occurs for no obvious reason. You can halt hyperglycemia with methods that include increasing your water intake, reviewing your eating schedule and food choices and adjusting the dosage of your medication with your doctor's advice and supervision. If hyperglycemia is left untreated, diabetics can develop a condition called ketoacidosis, which can lead to a coma and death. Potential symptoms of ketoacidosis include fruity-smelling breath, nausea, vomiting, an extremely dry mouth and shortness of breath. If you develop any of these symptoms, seek medical treatment immediately. Consult your doctor for more information on the causes and effects of high blood glucose.
