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Overview
High blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, is an elevated level of the type of sugar known as glucose in the blood. It's most often caused by diabetes, a disease in which the pancreas stops working or can't break down sugar as it's supposed to. Sometimes blood sugar is high for other reasons, such as eating too much sugar, injury, infection, or surgery. Sometimes there are no symptoms, but there are a number of symptoms to watch out for.
Identification
Thirst and frequent urination are the most common symptoms of high blood sugar. When sugar isn't broken down, it thickens the blood. The brain signals thirst so that you'll drink water to dilute the blood. Drinking a lot of water causes you to urinate more. Other symptoms are dry mouth, fatigue, blurred vision, dry or itchy skin, weight loss and an increased appetite.
Significance
If you have symptoms of high blood sugar you should be tested so that you can get it under control before your body is damaged. Even if you have no symptoms, you should be tested if there's a history of high blood sugar in your family. If high blood sugar continues untreated and you become dehydrated, you could develop other symptoms such as dizziness, difficulty breathing, increased drowsiness, confusion, or unconsciousness. This may lead to a coma.
Effects
Untreated high blood sugar can cause a life-threatening condition called ketoacidosis. When the body doesn't have enough insulin to change glucose into fuel, your body uses fat for energy. Toxic acids called ketones form when your body breaks down fat. Some ketones are flushed from your body in the urine, but others stay in your blood. Symptoms of ketones in the blood include headache, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, stomach pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, and fruity smelling breath. There are home testing kits to check for ketones in your urine, but you'll need to call your doctor immediately for help to lower your blood sugar level.
Considerations
Even if you are taking medication or being treated for high blood sugar, you can experience hyperglycemia. Sometimes you eat the wrong foods or don't get enough exercise. Infection, illness, and emotional stress can cause blood sugar to rise. Using expired insulin, not taking enough insulin, or forgetting to take your medication can make blood sugar levels go up. Pay attention to symptoms and monitor your blood sugar levels so you can take care of problems as soon as they arise.
Prevention/Solution
If you have symptoms of high blood sugar, check your blood sugar level. If it's high, check your urine for ketones. If there are no ketones, make sure to take your medicine on schedule. Keep track of levels so your doctor can change the dose or time you take your medicine. Don't drink beverages with sugar and eat less. Get a lot of exercise. Physical activity can lower your blood sugar unless you have ketones in your urine. If there are ketones present, exercise can make your blood sugar higher.
Warning
If your blood sugar stays high for a long time, your nerves, blood vessels and organs can be damaged. Blindness, kidney disease, heart disease and circulatory disorders leading to loss of limbs are caused by untreated high blood sugar. Treatment to keep blood sugar levels stable are the key to avoiding damage.
