What are the signs and symptoms of hyperglycemia?
Early symptoms of hyperglycemia include:
- Increased thirst (polydipsia) and/or hunger.
- Frequent urination (peeing).
- Headache.
- Blurred vision.
Symptoms of long-term hyperglycemia include:
- Fatigue.
- Weight loss.
- vagin*l yeast infections.
- Skin infections.
- Slow-healing cuts and sores.
You should see your healthcare provider if you or your child is experiencing these symptoms.
The glucose level at which people with diabetes start to experience symptoms varies. Many people don’t experience symptoms until their blood sugar is 250 mg/dL or higher. People who haven’t yet been diagnosed with diabetes typically experience these symptoms at lower levels.
It’s especially important to know the early signs of hyperglycemia and to monitor your blood sugar regularly if you take insulin or other medications for diabetes. If hyperglycemia is left untreated, it can develop into diabetes-related ketoacidosis (DKA), in which a lack of insulin and a high amount of ketones cause your blood to become acidic. DKA can also affect people who have undiagnosed Type 1 diabetes. This condition is an emergency situation that can lead to coma or death.
Symptoms of ketoacidosis include:
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Dehydration.
- Abdominal pain.
- Fruity-smelling breath.
- Deep labored breathing or hyperventilation (Kussmaul breathing).
- Rapid heartbeat.
- Confusion and disorientation.
- Loss of consciousness.
Seek immediate medical help if you or your child is experiencing symptoms of DKA.
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What causes hyperglycemia?
Hyperglycemia most often results from a lack of insulin. This can happen due to insulin resistance and/or issues with your pancreas — the organ that makes insulin.
Other hormones can contribute to the development of hyperglycemia as well. Excess cortisol (the “stress hormone”) or growth hormone, for example, can lead to high blood sugar:
Insulin resistance
A common cause of hyperglycemia is insulin resistance. Insulin resistance, also known as impaired insulin sensitivity, happens when cells in your muscles, fat and liver don’t respond as they should to insulin.
When your cells don’t properly respond to insulin, your body requires more and more insulin to regulate your blood sugar. If your body is unable to produce enough insulin (or you don’t inject enough insulin), it results in hyperglycemia.
Insulin resistance is the main cause of Type 2 diabetes, but anyone can experience it, including people without diabetes and people with other types of diabetes. It can be temporary or chronic.
Common causes of insulin resistance include:
- Obesity. Scientists believe obesity, especially excess fat tissue in your belly and around your organs (visceral fat), is a primary cause of insulin resistance.
- Physical inactivity.
- A diet of highly processed, high-carbohydrate foods and saturated fats.
- Certain medications, including corticosteroids, some blood pressure medications, certain HIV treatments and some psychiatric medications. These may cause temporary or long-term insulin resistance depending on how long you take them.
Certain hormonal conditions can lead to insulin resistance, such as:
- Cushing syndrome (excess cortisol).
- Acromegaly (excess growth hormone).
- Pregnancy. During pregnancy, the placenta releases hormones that cause insulin resistance. For some people, this leads to gestational diabetes.
Certain inherited genetic conditions are also associated with insulin resistance, including:
- Rabson-Mendenhall syndrome.
- Donohue syndrome.
- Myotonic dystrophy.
- Alström syndrome.
- Werner syndrome.
Pancreas issues
Damage to your pancreas can lead to a lack of insulin production and hyperglycemia. Pancreatic conditions that can cause hyperglycemia and diabetes include:
- Autoimmune disease: In Type 1 diabetes, your immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas for unknown reasons. This means your pancreas can no longer make insulin, resulting in hyperglycemia. Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) also results from an autoimmune reaction, but it develops much more slowly than Type 1.
- Chronic pancreatitis: This condition causes prolonged inflammation of your pancreas, which can damage the cells that produce insulin. This can result in a lack of insulin and hyperglycemia. Pancreatitis is a known cause of Type 3c diabetes.
- Pancreatic cancer: Cancer in your pancreas can damage the cells that produce insulin, resulting in a lack of insulin and hyperglycemia. About 25% of people with pancreatic cancer are diagnosed with diabetes 6 months to 36 months before the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
- Cystic fibrosis: People who have cystic fibrosis develop excessive mucus, which can scar their pancreas. This can cause their pancreas to produce less insulin, resulting in hyperglycemia and cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD).
Temporary causes of hyperglycemia
Certain situations can temporarily increase your blood sugar levels and cause hyperglycemia in people with and without diabetes.
Physical stress, such as from an illness, surgery or injury, can temporarily raise your blood sugar. Acute emotional stress, such as experiencing trauma or work-related stress, can increase your blood sugar as well. This is because your body releases cortisol and/or epinephrine (adrenaline).
Causes of hyperglycemia in people with diabetes
Several factors can contribute to hyperglycemia in people with diabetes. It can develop if things like food and diabetes medications are out of balance.
Common situations that can lead to hyperglycemia for people with diabetes include:
- Not taking enough insulin, injecting the wrong insulin or expired insulin, or an issue with the injection (such as from a site issue in insulin pump therapy).
- Not timing insulin and carb intake correctly.
- The amount of carbohydrates you’re consuming isn’t balanced with the amount of insulin your body can make or the amount of insulin you inject.
- The dose of oral diabetes medication you’re taking is too low for your needs.
- Being less active than usual.
- Dawn phenomenon.
What are the complications of hyperglycemia?
Prolonged (chronic) hyperglycemia over the years can damage blood vessels and tissues in your body. This can lead to a variety of complications, including the following:
It’s important to remember that other factors can contribute to the development of diabetes complications, such as genetics and how long you’ve had diabetes.
Acute (sudden and severe) hyperglycemia can lead to DKA, which is life-threatening.
