Hyperglycemia is the medical term for blood sugar levels that are higher than normal or above the range set for you by your doctor. People with diabetes are at risk for hyperglycemia, which can be caused by overeating, insufficient medication, illness, surgery and emotional stress. Your doctor is the best resource for determining what a severely high blood sugar level is for you. However, knowing the recommended blood sugar levels and the symptoms of very high levels can help you determine when your blood sugar levels are severely high.
Blood Sugar Levels
Diabetes occurs when the body does not make or use insulin well enough to move blood sugar from the blood to the body's cells. The American Diabetes Association publishes the typical blood sugar level ranges for adults with diabetes: 70 to 130mg/dl before a meal and less than 180mg/dl after a meal. A normal fasting blood sugar level is 100mg/dl or less. Fasting blood sugar levels between 100 and 125mg/dl indicate a risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Doctors diagnose diabetes when the fasting blood glucose level is 126mg/dl or higher.
Hyperglycemia
Hyperglycemia symptoms, which occur when your blood sugar levels exceed typical levels, include thirst, blurred vision, frequent urination, fatigue, increased appetite and weight loss. If you have very high blood sugar levels, or have had high levels over a long period of time, your symptoms might also include difficulty breathing, dizziness, rapid weight loss, confusion, increased drowsiness, unconsciousness and coma. Hyperglycemia can cause ketones in your urine, which could indicate a more serious condition caused by high blood sugar levels.
Diabetic Ketoacidosis
Blood sugar levels that are higher than 300mg/dl can indicate diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA, which occurs when high blood sugar levels do not respond to treatment. People with DKA produce ketones in their urine, which results from dehydration, the break down of fat deposits and toxic levels of ketones that make the blood more acidic. Moderate or large amounts of ketones in your urine might require hospitalization to replace fluids, correct electrolyte imbalance and get blood sugar levels under control. The condition is disruptive to the body's chemical processes and can result in coma and death if not treated.
Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Syndrome
Blood sugar levels greater than 600mg/dl indicate hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome, or HHS, which, unlike DKA, does not cause ketones in the urine. Although the condition can affect anyone with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, HHS is more common among older type 2 patients. In HHS, extremely high blood sugar levels are caused by infections or insufficient medication. The condition can lead to dehydration, coma and death if untreated.
