1. Hyperglycemia Could be Your First Symptom
One of the most dangerous things about hyperglycemia is that you may not know you have it until it's already become a serious problem. The first symptoms include an unquenchable thirst, excessive urination, fatigue and unexplained weight loss. Allowed to continue unchecked, hyperglycemia can eventually lead to hyperglycemic shock, characterized by mental confusion, loss of coordination, permanent organ and nerve damage and diabetic coma. If you've experienced any of the above symptoms (and there are many more), check with your doctor. He may prescribe a series of blood tests to determine if your blood glucose levels are normal.
2. Hyperglycemia May Signal Uncontrolled Diabetes
Anyone who's struggled with diabetes knows that, left unchecked, it can result in a number of short and long-term complications--including coma and even death. The most common cause of hyperglycemic shock is uncontrolled diabetes. But it can also be caused by a number of other things such as high stress levels, corticosteroid drugs, infections and kidney or liver disease. To insure that your condition doesn't progress to hyperglycemic shock, make sure that you're regularly monitored by your health care team, take your medications, drink plenty of water, get regular exercise, try to manage your stress levels and follow the dietary guidelines outlined for you when you were first diagnosed.
3. Smell Your Breath
Believe it or not, one of the most reliable ways to detect if you're out of glucose tolerance is by smelling your own breath. When your body has trouble processing glucose, it will often choose the next best fuel: fats. As your body breaks down fat, it produces byproducts called "ketones" that can ultimately lead to a dangerous condition called "ketoacidosis." While the body attempts to rid itself of ketones through the urine, it will often have a hard time keeping up with the demands and the ketones accumulate in the blood. The sweet-smelling or "fruity" breath you experience is a telltale symptom of ketoacidosis.
4. Illness is a Major Culprit of Hyperglycemia
Even the healthiest people occasionally get sidelined by illness or infection. For people who struggle to manage their blood glucose levels, an illness can exacerbate an already difficult problem. Illnesses make it hard to manage your blood glucose levels for a number of reasons. First, they make it difficult to stay hydrated. When you're sick in bed, one of the last things you think about is the amount of water you drink. Second, your appetite wanes, causing uncontrolled swings in blood glucose levels. And finally, illnesses often cause elevations in stress-related hormones that further increase glucose levels.
5. There May be More than One Problem
One of the difficulties with diagnosing and managing diabetes and other cardiovascular diseases is there can be so many causes. Doctors will usually have a pretty good idea what's causing your hyperglycemia but there's no guarantee. To make matters even worse, one cause may lead to another. The most important thing to remember when managing your blood glucose level is to communicate honestly with your doctor. If you caved into a moment of weakness and ate a candy bar, be sure to tell him. It's not the end of the world but it will help him to treat you properly.
