Hyperglycemia Definition

To a non-diabetic, the term hyperglycemia probably doesn't mean anything. But to a diabetic, it is a very important term. For these individuals, it means more than just high blood sugar: it means a serious condition that can be disastrous if it is not dealt with immediately.

Simply put, hyperglycemia occurs when there is too much sugar in the blood. This happens for many reasons. The body is not producing insulin at all, or the insulin being produced is insufficient for the body's needs. The diabetic has consumed far too much of the wrong foods. They are not exercising enough to burn the excess calories. Even stress or illness can initiate an episode.

Sooner or later, every diabetic is going to experience a hypoglycemic episode. It is a major complication of having diabetes that can affect individuals in different ways. The important part is being able to spot when it is occurring so that appropriate measures can be taken.


Signs that hyperglycemia is occurring includes the common diabetes symptoms of frequent thirst and urination. But it is also followed by feeling weak, difficulty concentrating, possible headache and blurred vision.

Treating this condition can be rather tricky. A normal remedy would involve exercising and drinking lots of water in an attempt to flush the excess sugar out of the body. But first, you have to determine if your urine has ketones in it. If they are present, it means that your body doesn't have enough insulin to convert the sugar into energy needs.

If ketones are present, exercising could actually make your sugar levels spike even higher, which would have detrimental consequences. That's why it is important to have your urine tested before taking drastic measures to bring sugar levels back down.



More Articles

With its slightly nutty flavor, chewy texture, and nutritional punch farro is an ancient whole grain worth a place in our pantry.

Farro...

Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely....

With diabetes becoming more of an epidemic each and every day, being knowledgeable about the disease, its effects on the body as well as ways to...

If you’re a diabetic or live with one, it can be tough trying to figure out the best foods to eat because your priority is to control your blood...

In this post, I will show you the 10 best ice creams for diabetics.

When you think of sweetened foods that a diabetic shouldn’t consume,...

More Articles

If you’re living with diabetes, snacking is a necessity because going for more than 3-4 hours without eating can be detrimental to your health....

For diabetics, choosing healthy snacks can be a daunting task.

A good rule of thumb is to pick out snacks that are rich in protein, fiber,...

According to information available through the National Institutes of Health, there’s an estimated 462 million people in the world who are...

Eleven Clinical Studies

After eleven clinical studies and 300,000 participants, researcher Vasanti Malik and her team of researchers...

Diabetic women often have a harder time losing weight than non-diabetic women. A study funded by Jenny Craig proved that diabetic women have an...

Many recent studies have proved that magnesium levels are lower in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics. This magnesium...

Fluid retention, also known as edema, is a problem that affects many diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes...

Some of us might be thrilled if we could manage our blood sugar by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, instead of working up a sweat biking, or using...

Cooking and baking with the ancient cereal grain sorghum has health benefits for people with diabetes, and those with weight control issues....

When it comes to certain foods, there are always questions as to whether or not a diabetic can have them without...

Matcha tea is a rich, creamy, full-bodied beverage with amazing nutritional properties that address several diabetes health concerns.

The...

Salads are good example of foods that type 2 diabetics can enjoy with relatively low guilt. With the right greens and other elements added, salad...

Remaining gainfully employed is important to many people. Those who live with any form of diabetes may find that some lines of work are more...

Learning that you have diabetes does mean making some lifestyle changes. One of the areas that needs attention is your diet. Most people find that...

One of the more challenging aspects of life as a type 2 diabetic is managing your diet. There’s often the temptation to avoid certain foods...