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Overview
High blood glucose levels, also known as hyperglycemia, are a dangerous condition that can lead to any number of serious medical conditions. The causes for high blood glucose are many and varied and usually involve the body's inability to process carbohydrates. High blood glucose levels are usually a sign of or at least a strong indicator that a person may have or be developing a disease known as diabetes.
Function
Glucose is present in most foods. The blood stream of the human body has the ability to carry glucose to every cell in the body. The pancreas creates a hormone called insulin which helps transfer glucose that is broken down out of foods into the cells, where it is converted to energy. But when the body fails to produce enough insulin or the insulin fails to carry out its job properly, the glucose level in the blood can rise, creating the state of hyperglycemia. This is why those suffering from some forms of diabetes need supplemental insulin injections.
Carbohydrates
A common cause of high blood glucose is the consumption of too many foods containing carbohydrates. Overeating has a tendency to overwhelm the body of a diabetic, with the carbohydrates reaching high levels that the body cannot process. It has been shown that within just a few hours after eating that the blood glucose levels of a person suffering from diabetes can rise significantly.
Insulin
The production of insulin in someone with diabetes cannot keep up with the demand for it within the body. This means that people with this condition need to get insulin from outside sources. Individuals can have a spike in their blood glucose levels if they fail to take their insulin shots or if they use insulin that is no longer any good. Sometimes they fail to take enough insulin to offset the sugar levels in the blood and this can make it rise. Those that use a device called an insulin pump can have it malfunction, meaning that they do not have enough insulin pumped into them on a regular basis.
Considerations
Other factors can cause high blood glucose in a person. Stress and other strong emotions can make these levels go up. If a person fails to exercise enough then they will have a difficult time keeping blood glucose levels under control. Infections and illnesses and the rigors of undergoing surgery are all causes of glucose levels being able to climb to high levels. There are many medications, with steroids at the forefront, which can adversely affect glucose in the blood.
Effects
Even people that have not been diagnosed with diabetes can experience high blood glucose problems. Various medications for other ailments can result in this condition as can extreme stress. Some eating disorders will make glucose levels higher than they should be and there are several medical conditions that also have this effect. Among them are pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, which involve the pancreas and have a direct effect on insulin production. Overactive glands that produce other vital hormones can also contribute to high blood glucose.
