Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) causes symptoms like extreme thirst, excessive urination, and fatigue. It can be treated with medications and lifestyle changes.
Hyperglycemia occurs when blood glucose levels are higher than normal. It’s also known as high blood sugar.
Hyperglycemia is most often associated with diabetes. However, it can also occur from other causes.
Keep reading to learn how hyperglycemia is measured, what blood glucose levels to aim for, and what you can do to treat or prevent levels that are too high.
Blood glucose is typically reported in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). It’s measured using a blood test. This typically involves drawing blood from a vein in your arm at an outpatient laboratory.
Your doctor will provide a referral for the blood draw and let you know where to go.
People with diabetes also regularly check their blood glucose levels. They can do this by testing a blood sample from a finger prick using a blood glucose meter or by using a continuous glucose monitor.
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The timing of blood glucose testing is also important. This is because blood glucose levels naturally rise after you’ve had a meal. The timing of blood glucose testing can be:
- Fasting: Fasting blood glucose is when you test your blood glucose when you haven’t had anything to eat or drink (except water) for at least 8 hours.
- Postprandial: Postprandial blood glucose is when you test your blood glucose 1 to 2 hours after a meal. Values for what’s considered normal blood glucose are higher in this measurement.
- Random: This is a blood glucose test that’s given at any time. Normal values may also be higher than fasting levels.
Another type of blood glucose test is called the A1C test. This test measures your average blood sugar levels over the past three months.
What blood glucose levels should people with diabetes aim for?
The American Diabetes Association recommends the following target ranges for most adults with diabetes who aren’t pregnant:
- Fasting glucose: 80 to 130 mg/dL
- Postprandial: Less than 180 mg/dL
- A1C: Less than 7%
Every individual with diabetes is different and has varying treatment needs. For this reason, the target blood glucose ranges recommended by your doctor may be different.
Doctors evaluate the degree of hyperglycemia in conjunction with other factors to determine the appropriate treatment strategy.
One of the most common causes of hyperglycemia is diabetes. Diabetes is a metabolic condition that affects about 38 million people in the United States, according to the
Insulin is the hormone that tells your cells to take in glucose from your blood to use for energy. In diabetes, the body doesn’t make enough insulin or doesn’t use insulin correctly. Because of this, blood glucose levels are higher than normal.
People with diabetes take medications to help them manage their blood glucose levels. However, hyperglycemia can still develop if you:
- are taking a diabetes medication that isn’t working well or is at too low a dose
- have missed a dose of your diabetes medication
- are experiencing high levels of physical or emotional stress
- have recently consumed a high amount of sugary or starchy foods
- have been less physically active than is typical for you
Can you have hyperglycemia if you don’t have diabetes?
Yes, it’s possible to have hyperglycemia even if you don’t have diabetes.
Some examples of potential non-diabetes causes of hyperglycemia include:
- the side effects of certain types of medications, such as steroid-induced hyperglycemia
- extreme physical stress, such as after surgery or during a critical illness (stress hyperglycemia)
If you have diabetes, there are things that you can do to help lower your blood glucose levels or prevent them from becoming too high. These include:
- take all of your diabetes medications exactly as directed by your doctor
- reduce your consumption of foods that are high in sugar, refined carbs, or starch
- aim to include more fiber in your diet
- make sure to stay hydrated by drinking enough water
- get regular exercise
- find effective ways to reduce stress in your daily life
- try to get enough good quality sleep
- talk with your doctor about managing weight if you have overweight or obesity
It’s also important to check your blood glucose levels regularly. If you notice that your blood glucose levels are consistently above your target range, see your doctor. It’s possible that your diabetes treatment plan may need to be adjusted.
It’s also possible for blood sugar levels to become dangerously high, leading to complications like DKA or HHS. Both of these are serious and life threatening and are treated in a hospital.
Hyperglycemia occurs when blood glucose is higher than normal. It’s most often associated with diabetes, but it can also occur due to other conditions.
Having blood glucose that’s too high can lead to organ damage and complications over time. When levels become very high, dangerous complications like DKA and HHS can result.
If you have diabetes, be sure to monitor your blood glucose levels on a regular basis. If you notice that your blood glucose values are often above your target range, visit a doctor to discuss the next steps.