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Hyperglycemia Causes And Symptoms
By Moses Wright | August 31, 2009
Hyperglycemia refers to the presence of high concentrations of glucose in the blood. People with diabetes or pre-diabetes are susceptible to hyperglycemia. Pre-diabetes is a susceptibility to hyperglycemia and an increased risk of developing diabetes.
Hyperglycemia is often confused with the name of the condition for having a low blood sugar, hypoglycemia. Both conditions can be fatal if not treated.
The initial signs of hyperglycemia are the same as the initial signs for diabetes. An increase in thirst and hunger along with frequent urination are the typical signs of hyperglycemia.
Fatigue, weight loss, impotence, dry skin, dry mouth, and recurrent infections such as yeast infections are symptoms of hyperglycemia. A person with hyperglycemia may also notice that wounds like cuts do not heal as well as they used to.
Hyperglycemia is worse for diabetic patients during illness or stress. During times of illness, diabetic patients may have difficulty controlling their blood sugar levels. Many diabetic patients could benefit from stress management as part of their diabetes management plans.
People with hyperglycemia may also have sugar in their urine. Not everyone with hyperglycemia will have symptoms. Stress and illness can make diabetic patients prone to hyperglycemia.
Testing blood glucose levels regularly is important for diabetic patients to guard against hyperglycemia. Diabetic patients may have to take diabetes medication to treat hyperglycemia.
The levels of glucose in the blood can be reduced by exercising. Exercise encourages the utilization of gluclose from the blood by the muscles. Before exercising to reduce blood glucose levels, diabetic patients should test for the presence of ketones since ketones can cause blood glucose levels to rise from exercise.
A dangerous diabetes complication is ketoacidosis. When the body does not have insulin to allow it to use glucose from the blood for energy, the body breaks down fat. Ketones are caused by the process of breaking down fat.
Hypoglycemia and skipping meals can also cause ketoacidosis. This is because without sufficient glucose, the body may break down fat for energy which causes ketones to develop.
The symptoms of ketoacidosis are nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, dry mouth, fruity smelling breath, and shortness of breath. Ketoacidosis is a very serious condition that can lead to a diabetic coma or death. If someone suspects that they are developing ketoacidosis, they should seek emergency medical treatment.
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