Hyperglycemia
Hyperglycemia refers to the presence of high concentrations of glucose in the blood. People with diabetes or pre-diabetes are susceptible to hyperglycemia. Pre-diabetes is a susceptibility to hyperglycemia and an increased risk of developing diabetes.
Hyperglycemia is often confused with the name of the condition for having a low blood sugar, hypoglycemia. Both conditions can be fatal if not treated.
The initial signs of hyperglycemia are the same as the initial signs for diabetes. An increase in thirst and hunger along with frequent urination are the typical signs of hyperglycemia.
Fatigue, weight loss, impotence, dry skin, dry mouth, and recurrent infections such as yeast infections are symptoms of hyperglycemia. A person with hyperglycemia may also notice that wounds like cuts do not heal as well as they used to.
Hyperglycemia can also cause abnormally high concentrations of sugar in the urine. A person with hyperglycemia may not have any symptoms.
People with hyperglycemia may also have sugar in their urine. Not everyone with hyperglycemia will have symptoms. Stress and illness can make diabetic patients prone to hyperglycemia.
Testing blood glucose levels regularly is important for diabetic patients to guard against hyperglycemia. Diabetic patients may have to take diabetes medication to treat hyperglycemia.
Exercising can also reduce the concentration of glucose in the blood, because exercise delivers more insulin to the muscles by which the glucose is used for energy. However, a diabetic patient should test for ketones before using exercise to reduce blood glucose levels, because ketones can cause blood glucose levels to rise with exercise.
A diabetes complication caused by hyperglycemia is ketoacidosis. If the body does not have insulin to allow it to use glucose from the blood for energy, the body breaks down fats. The process of breaking down fat for energy causes ketones.
Skipping meals and hypoglycemia can also make the person susceptible to developing ketoacidosis. Without enough glucose from food eaten, the body is forced to break down fat for energy which causes ketones.
Shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, fruity-smelling breath, and dry mouth are symptoms of ketoacidosis. Ketoacidosis can cause the person to enter a diabetic coma and can be fatal. Suspicion of ketoacidosis should be treated like a medical emergency.
Looking for a list of foods for diabetic to eat? Get your diabetic diet sample information at Moses Wright's diabetic diet resource site. Create your diabetic diet plans now.