Many people have high blood sugar. (a.k.a. hyperglycemia) and don’t realize it. If it goes undetected for any length of time, it can cause significant damage to many of the body’s systems so it’s very important to make sure that you manage your blood sugar levels as effectively as you can. Hyperglycemia is a symptom of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. So let’s define those first. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas does not make insulin, because the pancreas is being  attacked by its own islet cells. In type 2 diabetes, the body becomes resistant to insulin (usually because you are eating too much sugar and it can’t cope.) Type 1 diabetes is known as an autoimmune disease whereas type 2 diabetes isn’t an autoimmune condition. With type 2 diabetes your body just isn’t making enough insulin to keep up with all the sugar you are eating. Type 1 diabetes is not curable and requires regular injections of insulin or an insulin pump. Type 2 diabetes is very curable if you change the way you eat and especially if you lose weight. In Tony Robbins book “Lifeforce “ he documents studies in which people lost relatively small amounts of weight and drastically changed their blood sugar levels permanently, often eliminating type 2 diabetes.

Is Hyperglycemia Serious?

Very high blood sugar levels can cause life-threatening complications, such as:

• Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) – is a condition caused by the body needing to break down fat as a source of energy, which can lead to a diabetic coma, or one of the more serious side effects for people with type 1 diabetes

• Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS) – or severe dehydration is caused by the body trying to get rid of excess sugar. It tends to affect people with type 2 diabetes

• Permanent damage to various body parts such as the eyes, nerves, kidneys and blood vessels. So high blood pressure can be extremely dangerous. 

For the individual suffering from type 1 diabetes, continuous monitoring is imperative. For the individual suffering from type 2 diabetes, diet changes, in particular eliminating added sugar and foods that raise blood sugar levels, are a must.

Symptoms of Hyperglycemia

Let’s take a look at the most common symptoms of hyperglycemia.  In general, the symptoms of hyperglycemia include:

• Increased thirst 

• Dry mouth

• Unintentional weight loss

• Needing to pee frequently

• Tiredness

• Blurred vision

• Recurrent infections, such as thrush, bladder and even skin infections

  Since the symptoms of hyperglycemia can  be due to undiagnosed diabetes, it is imperative that you see your GP immediately if you notice a combination of these symptoms.

Importance of Blood Sugar Levels

Given the frequency of hyperglycemia in the US culture, it is imperative that you get your blood sugar levels tested on a regular basis. A blood sugar test measures the amount of a sugar called glucose in a sample of your blood. In general, glucose is a very good thing. It is the primary source of energy for most of the cells in the body, including brain cells. It is also the building block for the carbohydrates that are found in fruit, cereal, bread, pasta, and rice, which turns into glucose in the body. That’s why carbs raise our blood sugar levels. So glucose is a good thing because it is our energy source. But when we get too much of it, and our blood sugar gets too high, then all heck breaks loose. It is for this reason that it is important to find out what your blood sugar levels are, especially if they tend to be high, when you have your yearly physical done. Let’s take a look at how blood levels are tested.

How the Test is Performed?

First a blood sample is needed. The test may be done in the following ways:

• After you have not eaten anything for at least 8 hours (fasting) which is usually in the morning

• At any time of the day (random)

• Two hours after you drink a certain amount of glucose which is also known as an oral glucose tolerance test. 

Your health care provider may order this test if you have signs of diabetes or if you are just having your yearly physical. More than likely, the provider will order a fasting blood sugar test. The blood glucose test is also used to monitor people who already have diabetes.

The test may also be done if you have:

• An increase in how often you need to urinate

• Recently gained a lot of weight

• Blurred vision

• Confusion or a change in the way you normally talk or behave

• Fainting spells

• Seizures (for the first time)

• Unconsciousness or coma

This test may also be used to screen a person for diabetes.

High blood sugar and diabetes may not cause symptoms in the early stages. A fasting blood sugar test is the most common test done to screen for diabetes, usually starting at age 35. If you have no other diabetes risk factors, you should be tested every 3 years (in some cases, more often if your weight is rising). If you’re overweight and have any of the other risk factors below, ask your provider about getting tested at an earlier age and more often:

• High blood sugar level on a previous test

• Blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg or higher, or unhealthy cholesterol levels

• History of heart disease

• Member of a high-risk ethnic group (African American, Latino, Native American, Asian American, or Pacific Islander)

• Woman who has been previously diagnosed with gestational diabetes

• Polycystic ovary disease (condition in which a woman has an imbalance of female sex hormones which may cause cysts in the ovaries)

• Close relative with diabetes (such as a parent, brother, or sister)

• Not physically active

Children age 10 and older who are overweight and have at least two of the risk factors listed above should be tested for type 2 diabetes every 3 years, even if they have no symptoms.

Interpretation of Results

If you had a fasting blood glucose test, a level between 70 and 100 mg/dL (3.9 and 5.6 mmol/L) is considered normal. I recommend a fasting test rather than a random test as it’s much easier to interpret.“Normal” value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or may test different specimens. If you have any questions about your results, be sure to talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results. Finally, note that blood glucose measured by a blood test from a vein is considered more accurate than blood glucose measured from a fingerstick with a blood glucose meter, or blood glucose measured by a continuous glucose monitor.

What Abnormal Results Mean

If you had a fasting blood glucose test with the following levels:

• A level of 100 to 125 mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L) means you have impaired fasting glucose, a type of prediabetes. This increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and you should consult with your provider.

• A level of 126 mg/dL (7 mmol/L) or higher usually means you have diabetes.

Stay tuned for more info on the role of high blood sugar.