“Hyperglycemia” to Be Treated in Hurry Before Severe Health Problems Arise!

"Hyperglycemia" to Be Treated in Hurry Before Severe Health Problems Arise!

“Diabetic patients or the general public may neglect blood sugar testing because they understand that they have good health.with no signs or symptoms in the early stage or there might be mild abnormalities which make people believe that these symptoms will be disappeared without any medical treatment needed.
For this reason, it may cause patients to have hyperglycemia unknowingly and if left untreated, it can lead to complications and serious health problems!”

What is Hyperglycemia?

Hyperglycemia is a condition in which the body has higher glucose in the blood than normal level. Untreated diabetic patients with hyperglycemia may develop complications. This results in the destruction of nerves, blood vessels, or organs leading to serious health problems.

Symptoms of hyperglycemia that need to be monitored.

High blood sugar usually has no indications in the beginning but abnormalities can started to be observed when the sugar level is higher than 180 milligrams per deciliter or more. Initial symptoms can be observed are as follows.

• Frequent urination, especially during the night.
• Blurred vision.
• Very thirsty.
• Lose weight.
• Fatigue easily.
• The wound heals slowly and being easily infected.

For those whose blood sugar level exceeds 250 milligrams per deciliter and is not treated properly, acidosis can be resulted from the accumulation of ketones, which are waste products in the blood and urine, which can lead to other symptoms, namely, breath with a fruity odor, shortness of breath, dry mouth, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue, weight loss. In severe cases, confusion, drowsiness, and loss of consciousness may occur.

How much blood sugar levels are considered "normal" and "not normal"

Blood Sugar Test is the examination of the level of sugar in the blood by the patients abstaining from food and water for at least 8-10 hours before the blood test.

• Normal values in adults are between 70-100 milligrams per deciliter of normal blood sugar.
• A blood glucose level above the norm between 100-125 mg/dL is considered at risk for diabetes. The doctor may recommend behavioral adjustment such as diet, weight loss, and exercise in order to prevent future diabetes.
• Blood sugar levels greater than or equal to 126 milligrams per deciliter (testing at least 2 times) is considered diabetes.

Causes of hyperglycemia.

Diabetic patients easily have high sugar level in the blood because the body does not have enough insulin or insulin resistance causes abnormal sugar control. Unlike normal people, insulin is produced and secreted by the pancreas after a meal and it acts as a carrier of blood sugar into cells throughout the body to be metabolized as energy, resulting in reduction of blood sugar level to normal state.

Furthermore, there are other factors that may stimulate diabetic patients to enter into this condition, such as not getting insufficient insulin or taking diabetes medications, no control of food intake, a habit of living a life that is rarely exerted, injured or undergoing surgery, and taking steroids, etc.

Prevention of hyperglycemia.

Blood sugar levels can change over time. The prevention of hyperglycemia can be done in the following ways.

• Limiting carbohydrate intake.
• Exercising regularly.
• Keeping good health.
• Maintaining basic hygiene.
• Testing blood sugar levels regularly.

Anyhow, diabetic patients should take medication and visit doctor regularly and if abnormal blood sugar levels are detected, consult with the doctor on how to control or prevent the symptoms from getting worse.

Ms. Lakkhana Tespiam
Diabetes Coordinator Nurse, Bangkok Hospital Chiang Mai
Internal Medicine Department | Bangkok Hospital Chiang Mai

Call 052 089 888 Or Call Center 1719