Hyperglycemia is elevated blood sugar levels, often associated with diabetes, while hypoglycemia is low blood sugar, which can cause symptoms like confusion and sweating. Maintaining balanced blood glucose is vital for overall health, especially for individuals with diabetes.

Symptoms of hyperglycemia in people with diabetes tend to develop slowly over a few days or weeks. In some cases, there may be no symptoms until the blood sugar level is very high.

Symptoms of hyperglycemia include:

Hyperglycemia may occur due to the following reasons:

• Diabetes
  o in type 1 diabetes, the pancreas is unable to produce insulin.
  o in type 2 diabetes, the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin to stabilize the blood sugar.
  o in both conditions, glucose can build up in the bloodstream, resulting in hyperglycemia.
• Stress
• Illness, such as a cold
• Overeating, such as snacking between meals
• Lack of exercise
• Dehydration
• Missing a dose of diabetes medication or taking an incorrect dose
• Over-treating an episode of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
• Taking certain medicines, such as steroid medication.

Occasional episodes of hyperglycemia can also occur in children and young adults during growth spurts. Symptoms of hyperglycemia can also be due to undiagnosed diabetes, so consulting a doctor may be helpful for further treatment.

Symptoms of hyperglycemia include:

• Increased thirst and a dry mouth
• Frequent urination
• High glucose levels in urine
• Fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Unintentional weight loss
• Recurrent infections, such as thrush, urinary tract infections, and skin infections1.

Complications of untreated hyperglycemia include:

• cardiovascular disease
• kidney disease
• nerve damage
• infection
• bone problems
• amputation or death

Hyperglycemia can be prevented by

• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Regular physical activity
• Eating more fresh fruits and vegetables & fewer refined carbohydrates
• Taking diabetes medication as instructed
• Regular monitoring of blood sugar^33,34,35,36