Hyperglycemia is an excessive increase in the amount of sugar you have in the blood.Whether you have type 1 diabetes mellitus and type 2, when your normal blood glucose values increase suddenly, you are living an episode of hyperglycemia.
Although your medical team will tell you what values are high for you, you must know that the optimal blood sugar levels for people with type 1 diabetes are:
- Before meals between 80-120 mg/dl
- After the lower meals 180 mg/dl.
Hyperglycemia symptoms
Sometimes, you may suffer from an episode of hyperglycemia and do not notice any symptoms.But, in general, you can detect it when experiencing:
- More thirst than usual.Despite drinking much more, you will continue with your mouth dry and urinate in greater quantity.
- Weight loss, although you eat the same as always or even more than usual.
- More sleep and tiredness.
- Symptoms hyperglycemia
It is important that you are attentive to these symptoms to detect an episode of hyperglycemia as soon as possible.In any case, the best way to know if your blood sugar level is high is to often perform your hair glycemia controls.Remember, you can suffer hyperglycemia whether you are treated with insulin or pills as if your treatment is based only on diet and physical exercise.
causes of hyperglycemia
You can experience a rise in your blood sugar level as a result of:
Having forgotten the administration of insulin or made an error in the injection technique of the same.
Having ingested food or beverages with high carbohydrates content: lines, juices, smoothies, pastries, cakes, ice cream, chocolate, etc., or taken more than usual of fruit, pasta, potatoes, legumes, rice, bread or breadmilk without adequate the rapid insulin dose.
Have an infection.It is the most frequent cause of hyperglycemia and decompensation of diabetes.When you have an infection (cold, dental phlegmon, urine infection ...) your body raises the production of certain hormones to fight it.This causes an increase in your blood sugar level.For this reason, if you feel ill, it is very important that you go to the doctor as soon as possible.
Have taken other medications.Some drugs, such as corticosteroids, can cause hyperglycemia.It is very important that you consult with your doctor whenever they prescribe a new medicine.
Not having adapted the treatment, in the event that you have to manage insulin.If this is your case, you must adjust the pattern and insulin dose frequently.
Extracted from clinic tips for people with type 1 diabetes and clinic tips for people with type 2 diabetes, endocrinology and nutrition service.Institut Clinic Diabetes Unit of Digestive and Metabolic Diseases.