Hyperglycemia

Hyperglycemia is a medical condition in which there is an excess of sugar (glucose) in a person's bloodstream. Although glucose is a necessary material for a healthy life and provides the body with needed energy, too much glucose can lead to an array of symptoms and increase the risk of more serious illnesses. Hyperglycemia has several potential causes, including an imbalance of insulin (a chemical in the body that helps to process glucose) and health factors such as diet and exercise. This condition is closely linked to diabetes, which affects more than thirty million people in the United States. People can monitor their blood sugar and reduce excess glucose with medications and lifestyle changes.

Background

Blood is one of the most important parts of the human body. Blood helps to protect and nourish the body in many ways, mainly by delivering needed nutrients to, and removing waste material from, the cells and tissues. One of the primary nutrients delivered to the cells by blood is glucose, a form of sugar. Most glucose originates in foods and is carried throughout the body in the bloodstream. The body requires a steady supply of glucose, which it uses for energy.

Although glucose is necessary for a healthy life, an excess of the sugar can lead to serious health problems. Having too much sugar in the blood is known as hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar. This condition may have several causes. A major cause is a lack of insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that works within the body to allow the cells to absorb and use glucose. If the body cannot produce insulin, or does not process or use insulin properly, the glucose cannot enter the cells and remains in the blood.

Over time, the resulting high blood sugar may contribute to a host of more serious health problems, including diabetes. Diabetes is a dangerous disease that may take different forms and affect the body in different ways. The disease is common, affecting more than thirty million people in the United States as of 2015. About 25 percent of American senior citizens over the age of sixty-five have the disease. Many people with diabetes are not even aware of it, and this can affect their ability to treat the disease early before it can advance to more serious, potentially life-threatening, stages.

Overview

Hyperglycemia may have many causes, and may stem from more than one cause at the same time. The most common cause is an insulin imbalance. Although insulin is produced naturally in the pancreas, some people cannot produce the needed amounts. Other people have chemical imbalances that do not allow their insulin to work properly. Food is another major factor, since food is the main source of glucose in the body. People who eat too much food, particularly sugary foods, can elevate their blood sugar to unhealthy levels. Some medications may also raise blood sugar.

Other potential causes of hyperglycemia relate to a person's lifestyle. Lack of exercise, for example, may cause an elevation in blood sugar. Exercise causes blood to circulate to more parts of the body and causes cells to burn energy and therefore to use more glucose. Not exercising can leave excess glucose in the blood. Some illnesses may affect blood sugar as well, as can stressful situations, both positive and negative. Illnesses and stress cause hormonal changes that may affect levels of insulin and glucose.

People with hyperglycemia often experience one or more symptoms relating to the excess glucose in the blood and its effects on the body. Because the glucose is not being adequately supplied to the cells, the cells are not getting the needed energy. This often results in a feeling of overall fatigue, or chronic tiredness, a common symptom of hyperglycemia.

The body, starved of energy, increases the appetite, making people with hyperglycemia experience ongoing hunger. At the same time, however, the energy from this food is still not reaching the cells, so the body also begins burning fat and muscle already stored inside the body, leading to a sharp and unhealthy rate of weight loss. An increased appetite along with decreasing weight is also a sign of hyperglycemia.

The final main symptoms of hyperglycemia involve increased urination. The body responds to the excess glucose in the blood by attempting to remove the glucose through urine. The increased urination then depletes the body of much-needed water, leading the person with hyperglycemia to become extremely thirsty. Overly frequent urination and thirst are other common signs of the condition.

The symptoms of hyperglycemia may cause damage to the body over time if they are not treated. However, the main danger of hyperglycemia is that it may lead to more serious illnesses. A chronic excess of sugar in the blood can damage critical blood vessels, tissues, or organs. Heart diseases including strokes and kidney damage rise significantly with hyperglycemic patients. The condition may also affect the nervous system or even the ability to see.

Doctors encourage people with hyperglycemia and people at risk of the disease to monitor their blood sugar levels. This can be done with a blood glucose meter, a machine that pricks the skin with a small needle and analyzes the glucose content of the blood. These meters can help patients determine if their levels are too high, even in the absence of obvious symptoms. Health care professionals can provide patients with recommended glucose level ranges to compare against their results.

People with hyperglycemia have three main avenues of treatment. One involves food intake. People with blood sugar concerns should follow a healthy and balanced meal plan that eliminates or reduces sugary foods such as candy, soft drinks, and other carbohydrates. Eating healthily will decrease the risk of an excess sugar buildup in the bloodstream. Similarly, people should monitor their activity levels, and find ways to incorporate healthy exercise plans into their daily lives. Exercise is known to help burn glucose and improve well-being in many other ways. Finally, many people with hyperglycemia seek treatment involving medications, such as medical insulin, which can help to alter the body's processes and reduce the internal imbalances contributing to hyperglycemia.

Bibliography

Hess-Fischl, Amy. "Hyperglycemia: When Your Blood Glucose Level Goes Too High." EndocrineWeb, 7 Apr. 2017, www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/hyperglycemia/hyperglycemia-when-your-blood-glucose-level-goes-too-high. Accessed 31 Oct. 2017.

"Hyperglycemia." MedlinePlus, 15 June 2017, medlineplus.gov/hyperglycemia.html. Accessed 31 Oct. 2017.

"Hyperglycemia and Diabetic Ketoacidosis." Kids Health from Nemours, kidshealth.org/en/parents/hyperglycemia.html. Accessed 31 Oct. 2017.

"Hyperglycemia (High Blood Glucose)." American Diabetes Association, www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/blood-glucose-control/hyperglycemia.html. Accessed 31 Oct. 2017.

"Hyperglycemia in Diabetes." Mayo Clinic, 18 Apr. 2015, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hyperglycemia/basics/definition/con-20034795. Accessed 31 Oct. 2017.

"Hyperglycemia – Symptoms, Causes and Treatments." Medical News Today, 5 Jan. 2016, www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/diabetes/hyperglycemia.php. Accessed 31 Oct. 2017.

Stöppler, Melissa Conrad. "Hyperglycemia (High Blood Sugar)." Medicine Net, www.medicinenet.com/hyperglycemia/article.htm. Accessed 31 Oct. 2017.

"What Is Diabetes?" National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Nov. 2016, www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes. Accessed 31 Oct. 2017.