Hyperglycemia
Hyperglycemia means “high blood sugar.” This is a sugar level that is above 200mg/dl as measured by a blood sugar monitor.
Over time, high blood sugar levels can cause problems for all parts of your body. It is very important that you learn the signs and symptoms your body gives you when your sugar levels are too high. Checking your blood sugar is the best way to see if your sugar levels are high. Don’t wait for your body to let you know you have a problem.
Never be afraid to check your sugar level!
Signs of high blood sugar levels include:
- Feeling thirsty
- Peeing often
- Hungry
- Tired
- Blurry vision
- Weight loss
Causes of high blood sugar
One of the best ways for you to control your sugar levels is to know what causes your sugar level to go up. By knowing the causes, you can take steps to stay away from or lessen the causes. You can’t fix the problem if you don’t know that you have one.
Causes of high blood sugar include:
- Eating too many carbohydrate foods (such as potatoes and bread)
- Gaining weight
- Missing your medicine
- Stress
- Being sick
- Steroids (a kind of medicine)
Treatment
Treatment of high blood sugar levels begins with knowing what’s caused them to get high.
As you track your numbers, think about what you are doing and how that may have caused the number. Your blood sugar can change because of stress, exercise, what you ate and when you took your medicine.
Tips to help lower your blood sugar level when it’s high:
- Check your sugar level regularly to see what is going on
- Exercise
- Drink plenty of water. At least one glass per hour
- Take your diabetes medicines like your health care provider told you to
- Talk to your health care team if you see changes