Provide a valuable resource to your clients or customers by linking to this resource page. Just place the following link on your website.
Hyperglycaemia is the medical term for high blood sugar, which is a condition where there is an excessive amount of glucose (sugar) circulating in the bloodstream. It is the defining feature of diabetes mellitus and occurs when the body lacks sufficient insulin or cannot use insulin effectively.
read more about hyperglycaemia ...Insulin is the hormone needed to move glucose from the bloodstream into the body's cells for energy; without it, glucose accumulates. The underlying causes include skipping insulin doses or diabetic medication, eating too many carbohydrates, or suffering from physical stress, such as illness or infection.
When glucose levels rise above the normal range (typically above 180 mg/dL), the body enters a hyperglycaemic state. Prolonged periods of high blood sugar can lead to severe complications like diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
Symptoms develop slowly over hours or days and include extreme thirst, frequent urination, and unintended weight loss. The kidneys attempt to filter out the excess glucose, pulling large amounts of water with it, leading to the frequent urination and dehydration.
Other signs include fatigue, blurred vision, and nausea. If left untreated, this can progress to severe dehydration and a diabetic coma, requiring immediate emergency care.
The long-term consequences of untreated high blood sugar are severe damage to blood vessels and nerves throughout the body. This damage affects the eyes, kidneys, feet, and heart. Consistent management is necessary to prevent these chronic complications.
Hyperglycaemia directly impacts eye health, primarily by causing diabetic retinopathy. High sugar levels damage the tiny blood vessels in the retina, causing them to leak fluid or bleed. This damage leads to blurred vision, floaters, and is a leading cause of blindness in adults.
Treatment involves administering corrective doses of insulin (for Type 1 diabetes) or medication (for Type 2 diabetes), consuming large amounts of fluids to combat dehydration, and closely monitoring blood sugar levels to bring them back into a healthy range.
Hyperglycaemia is high blood sugar (too much glucose). Hypoglycaemia is dangerously low blood sugar (not enough glucose).
Yes, but it is rare. It can be caused by severe physical stress, steroids, or critical illness, but usually resolves quickly.
Exercise helps, but if sugar is over 240 mg/dL, check for "ketones" first. Exercising with ketones can dangerously worsen the condition.
Persistent high blood sugar causes "Refractive Changes." If your vision becomes blurry, do not get a new glasses prescription until your sugar is stable for 8 weeks, as your lens shape will change once your glucose levels return to normal.
ADA. Hyperglycemia (diabetes.org). 2024.
AAO. Diabetes and Your Eyes (aao.org). 2024.
Mayo Clinic. Hyperglycemia in Diabetes (mayoclinic.org). 2024.
StatPearls. Diabetic Ketoacidosis (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). 2024.