Hyperglycemia and Diabetes
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Autopilot Lost – Diabetic Ketoacidosis
Medical Author: Benjamin C. Wedro, MD, FAAEM
Medical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
 We live in a very narrow range of normal. In the range of normal, the body performs
well, but once we slip outside the norm, the body spirals slowly out of
control. We take most of the internal controls of our body for granted since they are on
autopilot, but many people need to fly manually.
The body's cells need two energy requirements to function. The blood stream
delivers both oxygen and glucose to the front door of the cell. The the
oxygen is invited in, but the glucose needs a key to open the door. The insulin
molecule is that key. When we eat, the body senses the levels of glucose in the
blood stream and secretes just the right amount of insulin from the pancreas so
that cells and the body can function.
People with diabetes don't have the luxury of that auto-sensing. They need to
balance the amount of glucose intake with the amount of insulin
that needs to be injected. Not enough insulin and the glucose levels in the
blood stream start to rise; too much insulin, and they plummet.
The consequences of hypoglycemia,
hypoglycemia, and diabetic ketoacidosis
are easy to understand.
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What is Hyperglycemia?
Hyperglycemia, or high blood glucose (sugar), is a
serious health problem for those with
diabetes. Hyperglycemia develops when
there is too much sugar in the blood. In people with diabetes, there are two
specific types of hyperglycemia that occur:
- Fasting hyperglycemia is defined as a blood sugar greater than 90-130 mg/dL
(milligrams per deciliter) after fasting for at least 8 hours.
- Postprandial or
after-meal hyperglycemia is defined as a blood sugar usually greater than 180
mg/dL. In people without diabetes postprandial or post-meal sugars rarely go
over 140 mg/dL but occasionally, after a large meal, a 1-2 hour post-meal glucose
level can reach 180 mg/dL. Consistently elevated high post-meal glucose levels
can be an indicator that a person is at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes
When a person with diabetes has hyperglycemia frequently or for long periods of
time as indicated by a high HbA1c blood test, damage to nerves, blood vessels
and other body organs can occur. Hyperglycemia can also lead to more serious
conditions, including ketoacidosis -- mostly in people with type 1 diabetes --
and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome (HHNS) in people with type 2
diabetes or in people at risk for type 2 diabetes.
It's important to treat the symptoms of hyperglycemia promptly to prevent
complications from diabetes.
|
|
Autopilot Lost – Diabetic Ketoacidosis
Medical Author: Benjamin C. Wedro, MD, FAAEM
Medical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
We live in a very narrow range of normal. In the range of normal, the body performs
well, but once we slip outside the norm, the body spirals slowly out of
control. We take most of the internal controls of our body for granted since they are on
autopilot, but many people need to fly manually.
The body's cells need two energy requirements to function. The blood stream
delivers both oxygen and glucose to the front door of the cell. The the
oxygen is invited in, but the glucose needs a key to open the door. The insulin
molecule is that key. When we eat, the body senses the levels of glucose in the
blood stream and secretes just the right amount of insulin from the pancreas so
that cells and the body can function.
People with diabetes don't have the luxury of that auto-sensing. They need to
balance the amount of glucose intake with the amount of insulin
that needs to be injected. Not enough insulin and the glucose levels in the
blood stream start to rise; too much insulin, and they plummet.
The consequences of hypoglycemia,
hypoglycemia, and diabetic ketoacidosis
are easy to understand.
|
|
What Causes Hyperglycemia in Diabetes?
Hyperglycemia in diabetes may be
caused by:
- Skipping or forgetting your insulin or oral glucose-lowering medicine
- Eating
too many grams of carbohydrates for the amount of insulin administered or just
eating too many grams of carbohydrates in general
- Eating too much food and
having too may calories
- Infection
- Illness
- Increased stress
- Decreased activity or
exercising less than usual
- Strenuous physical activity
Next: What Are the Symptoms of Hyperglycemia in Diabetes? »
- insulin - Establishes the medication insulin, a drug used for the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
- Hemoglobin A1c Test - Hemoglobin A1c test is used as a standard tool to determine blood sugar control for patients with diabetes
- Diabetes - Learn about type 1 and 2 diabetes (Diabetes Mellitus) symptoms including increased urination, thirst, weight loss, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, skin infections, and blurred vision. Causes and diagnosis information is provided in the information.
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Hyperglycemia
Diabetes and Eye Problems »
Eye problems and diabetes introduction
If you have diabetes, regular visits to your ophthalmologist for eye exams
are important to avoid eye problems.
High blood sugar (glucose) increases the
risk of diabetes eye problems. In fact, diabetes is the leading cause of
blindness in adults age 20 to 74.
If you have eye problems and diabetes, don't buy a new pair of glasses when
you notice you have blurred vision. It could just be a temporary eye problem
that develops rapidly with diabetes and is caused by high blood sugar levels.
High blood sugar in diabetes causes the lens of the eye to swell, which
changes your ability to see. To correct this kind of eye problem, you need to
get your blood sugar back into the target range (90-130 milligrams per deciliter
or mg/dL before meals, and less than 180 mg/dL one to two hours after a meal).
It may take as long as three months after your blood sugar is well controlled
for your vision to fully get ...
Read the Diabetes and Eye Problems article »
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