Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesFactorsSymptomsTreatmentWhen to Get Help
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Factors
Symptoms
Treatment
When to Get Help
Besides sugar, other things that can spike your blood sugar (glucose) include sunburn, lack of sleep, dehydration, and even black coffee.In fact, research shows that up to 38% of people experience high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), regardless of diabetes status.Genetics, diet and exercise, and overall health can also influence blood sugar levels.
Blood sugar normally fluctuates throughout the day, withspikeshappening after meals. When a nondiabetic person eats or drinks something with glucose, their blood sugar will rise up to 140 mg/dL within two hours. For reference, most nondiabetic people wake up with afasting glucoselevel of 99 mg/dL or below.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
Causes of High Blood Sugar Without Diabetes
Three important factors influence blood sugar, with or without diabetes:
Genetics:A family history of diabetes can increase your risk of developing high blood sugar. While diabetes can be prevented through diet and lifestyle factors, impaired insulin sensitivity can run in families and may make you more prone to developing high blood sugar.
Poor diet:Excess sugar and refined carbs break down into glucose, raising blood sugar and prompting insulin release for energy storage. Frequent high intake of sugar and refined carbs can cause excessive insulin release and insulin resistance, which may progress to type II diabetes over time.
You may also be more likely to experience high blood sugar if you have one of these conditions:
Cushing’s syndrome:People with Cushing’s syndrome often have high blood sugar due to excess cortisol. Elevated cortisol can interfere with insulin, leading to insulin resistance. About 10% to 30% of those with Cushing’s will experience impaired glucose tolerance, and 40% to 45% may develop diabetes.
Pancreatic disease:Pancreatic diseases like pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and cystic fibrosis can lead to hyperglycemia due to damage to pancreatic cells. These cells produce insulin. When they’re damaged, the pancreas can’t make enough insulin to regulate blood sugar effectively.
Polycystic ovary syndrome:People with PCOS often have hormonal imbalances, including elevated testosterone and insulin. Despite high insulin levels, many people with PCOS experience insulin resistance. As a result, excess glucose remains in the bloodstream, leading to hyperglycemia.
Surgical stress:The body also undergoes stress after surgery. This stress leads to increased cytokines and hormones that boost glucose production in the liver and hinder insulin’s ability to lower blood sugar. Up to 30% of people may experience stress-induced hyperglycemia post-surgery, with elevated blood sugar levels lasting well after leaving the hospital.
Infections:Stress-induced hyperglycemia can occur with infections like pneumonia or urinary tract infections. Elevated cortisol levels during infections block insulin’s ability to lower blood sugar, leading to high glucose levels. This response is normal, as it provides energy to vital organs like the brain and kidneys, supporting the immune system in fighting off the infection.
Medications:Certain medications, includingcatecholamine vasopressorslike dopamine and norepinephrine, immunosuppressants like tacrolimus and cyclosporine, and corticosteroids, can raise blood glucose levels. They activate enzymes that increase glucose and disrupt insulin’s ability to regulate it. Hospitalized patients receiving IV nutrition, which often contains sugar solutions, are also at risk for hyperglycemia.
Obesity:Excess fat cells, known as adipocytes, throw off the balance of glucose and insulin in the body. They release inflammatory proteins, like interleukins and tumor necrosis factor, which raise insulin resistance and make it harder for the body to produce insulin when blood sugar spikes. These fat cells also limit the removal of glucose for energy or storage in muscles.
Gum disease:Although studies are mixed, some research shows that advanced gum disease causes inflammation in the body to rise, which can lead to higher blood sugar levels. Gum disease is also common in people with diabetes. Some dentists even check for warning signs of diabetes during regular oral exams.
What Causes High Blood Sugar Besides Sugar?
Sugar isn’t the only factor that can lead to high blood sugar in nondiabetic individuals. A range of everyday foods and other influences, like stress, lack of sleep, and certain medications, can also cause blood sugar spikes.
Common blood sugar triggers in nondiabetics include:
Keep in mind that foods don’t have to be sweetened to spike blood sugar. For example, a starchy bagel can cause blood sugar to rise even higher than a sugar donut.
What Does High Blood Sugar Feel Like?
When blood sugar levels are excessive, people may feel anxiety due to rapid heartbeats. They may also have trouble concentrating or feel confused.
Depending on the severity of the case,symptoms of high blood sugar without diabetesmay feel like:
How to Bring Blood Sugar Down Fast
Nutrition therapy is highly recommended for people with prediabetes and diabetes and can help nondiabetic people stabilize their blood sugar, too.
In addition to controlling what you eat, nutrition therapy involves managing portion sizes and balancing meals with a mix of carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats to stabilize blood sugar.
The American Diabetes Association recommends filling a 9-inch meal plate with:
On the side, choose water or another zero-calorie drink, such as sparkling water or unsweetened tea.
How Can I Flush My Blood Sugar Fast?Drinking water can help lower blood sugar levels, but it won’t work instantly. Staying hydrated helps your kidneys flush out excess sugar through urine, which can gradually reduce blood sugar over time.Also, going for a light walk when your blood sugar is high may help your muscles use glucose for energy.
How Can I Flush My Blood Sugar Fast?
Drinking water can help lower blood sugar levels, but it won’t work instantly. Staying hydrated helps your kidneys flush out excess sugar through urine, which can gradually reduce blood sugar over time.Also, going for a light walk when your blood sugar is high may help your muscles use glucose for energy.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If you experience symptoms of nondiabetic hyperglycemia, such as frequent urination, excessive hunger and thirst, or blurry vision, make an appointment with your healthcare provider to discuss your symptoms.
If your symptoms occur suddenly after you have an injury or illness, you should seek immediate care. Call 911 if you experience:
DKA requires immediate medical attention. It is often the first sign of diabetes in people who haven’t yet been diagnosed.
Summary
A variety of factors can contribute to high blood sugar, including various medical conditions, poor diet, physical inactivity, and even sunburns. If you have high blood sugar often, it’s important to check with your healthcare provider and monitor it. Avoiding sugar and starchy foods, drinking lots of water, and exercising regularly will also help keep your blood sugar stable over time.
25 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control.10 surprising things that can spike your blood sugar.Amin M, Vahdat Shariatpanahi Z, Vahabzadeh D, Nasiri L, Shargh A.Non-diabetic hyperglycemia and some of its correlates in ICU hospitalized patients receiving enteral nutrition.Maedica (Bucur). 2017 Sep;12(3):174-179.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Testing for diabetes.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Insulin resistance & prediabetes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.American Diabetes Association.Understanding blood glucose and exercise.Colao A, De Block C, Gaztambide MS, Kumar S, Seufert J, Casanueva FF.Managing hyperglycemia in patients with Cushing’s disease treated with pasireotide: medical expert recommendations.Pituitary. 2014;17(2):180-186. doi:10.1007/s11102-013-0483-3Yang X, Zhang R, Jin T, Zhu P, Yao L, Li L,et al.Stress Hyperglycemia Is Independently Associated with Persistent Organ Failure in Acute Pancreatitis.Dig Dis Sci. 2022 May;67(5):1879-1889. doi:10.1007/s10620-021-06982-8.Siddiqui S, Mateen S, Ahmad R, Moin S.A brief insight into the etiology, genetics, and immunology of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).J Assist Reprod Genet. 2022 Nov;39(11):2439-2473. doi:10.1007/s10815-022-02625-7.Fakhry SM, Morse JL, Wilson NY, Waswick WA, Garland JM, Chipko JM,et al.Hyperglycemia in nondiabetic adult trauma patients is associated with worse outcomes than diabetic patients: An analysis of 95,764 patients.J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2022 Sep 1;93(3):316-322. doi:10.1097/TA.0000000000003576.Goyal N, Kaur R, Sud A, Ghorpade N, Gupta M.Non diabetic and stress induced hyperglycemia [SIH] in orthopaedic practice: what do we know so far?J Clin Diagn Res. 2014;8(10):LH01-LH3. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2014/10027.5022Rivas AM, Nugent K.Hyperglycemia, Insulin, and Insulin Resistance in Sepsis.Am J Med Sci. 2021 Mar;361(3):297-302. doi: 10.1016/j.amjms.2020.11.007.Vennard KC, Selen DJ, Gilbert MP.The management of hyperglycemia in noncritically ill hospitalized patients treated with continuous enteral or parenteral nutrition.Endocr Pract. 2018 Oct 2;24(10):900-906. doi:10.4158/EP-2018-0150.Malone JI, Hansen BC.Does obesity cause type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)? Or is it the opposite?.Pediatr Diabetes. 2019 Feb;20(1):5-9. doi:10.1111/pedi.12787.American Diabetes Association.Diabetes and gum disease.Iizuka K.Is the use of artificial sweeteners beneficial for patients with diabetes mellitus? The advantages and disadvantages of artificial sweeteners.Nutrients. 2022 Nov;14(21):4446. doi:10.3390/nu14214446Stanford Medicine.Diabetic-level glucose spikes.UCLA Health.Continuous glucose monitoring is becoming popular among non-diabetics.American Medical Association.Foods that spike a patient’s blood glucose are not what you think.Yale Medicine.Hyperglycemia: symptoms, causes, and treatments.UNC Health.10 silent symptoms of diabetes.Mass General Brigham.How to control blood sugar with diet.American Diabetes Association.Tips for eating well.Johnson EC, Bardis CN, Jansen LT, Adams JD, Kirkland TW, Kavouras SA.Reduced water intake deteriorates glucose regulation in patients with type 2 diabetes.Nutr Res. 2017 Jul;43:25-32. doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2017.05.004Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetic ketoacidosis.
25 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control.10 surprising things that can spike your blood sugar.Amin M, Vahdat Shariatpanahi Z, Vahabzadeh D, Nasiri L, Shargh A.Non-diabetic hyperglycemia and some of its correlates in ICU hospitalized patients receiving enteral nutrition.Maedica (Bucur). 2017 Sep;12(3):174-179.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Testing for diabetes.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Insulin resistance & prediabetes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.American Diabetes Association.Understanding blood glucose and exercise.Colao A, De Block C, Gaztambide MS, Kumar S, Seufert J, Casanueva FF.Managing hyperglycemia in patients with Cushing’s disease treated with pasireotide: medical expert recommendations.Pituitary. 2014;17(2):180-186. doi:10.1007/s11102-013-0483-3Yang X, Zhang R, Jin T, Zhu P, Yao L, Li L,et al.Stress Hyperglycemia Is Independently Associated with Persistent Organ Failure in Acute Pancreatitis.Dig Dis Sci. 2022 May;67(5):1879-1889. doi:10.1007/s10620-021-06982-8.Siddiqui S, Mateen S, Ahmad R, Moin S.A brief insight into the etiology, genetics, and immunology of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).J Assist Reprod Genet. 2022 Nov;39(11):2439-2473. doi:10.1007/s10815-022-02625-7.Fakhry SM, Morse JL, Wilson NY, Waswick WA, Garland JM, Chipko JM,et al.Hyperglycemia in nondiabetic adult trauma patients is associated with worse outcomes than diabetic patients: An analysis of 95,764 patients.J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2022 Sep 1;93(3):316-322. doi:10.1097/TA.0000000000003576.Goyal N, Kaur R, Sud A, Ghorpade N, Gupta M.Non diabetic and stress induced hyperglycemia [SIH] in orthopaedic practice: what do we know so far?J Clin Diagn Res. 2014;8(10):LH01-LH3. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2014/10027.5022Rivas AM, Nugent K.Hyperglycemia, Insulin, and Insulin Resistance in Sepsis.Am J Med Sci. 2021 Mar;361(3):297-302. doi: 10.1016/j.amjms.2020.11.007.Vennard KC, Selen DJ, Gilbert MP.The management of hyperglycemia in noncritically ill hospitalized patients treated with continuous enteral or parenteral nutrition.Endocr Pract. 2018 Oct 2;24(10):900-906. doi:10.4158/EP-2018-0150.Malone JI, Hansen BC.Does obesity cause type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)? Or is it the opposite?.Pediatr Diabetes. 2019 Feb;20(1):5-9. doi:10.1111/pedi.12787.American Diabetes Association.Diabetes and gum disease.Iizuka K.Is the use of artificial sweeteners beneficial for patients with diabetes mellitus? The advantages and disadvantages of artificial sweeteners.Nutrients. 2022 Nov;14(21):4446. doi:10.3390/nu14214446Stanford Medicine.Diabetic-level glucose spikes.UCLA Health.Continuous glucose monitoring is becoming popular among non-diabetics.American Medical Association.Foods that spike a patient’s blood glucose are not what you think.Yale Medicine.Hyperglycemia: symptoms, causes, and treatments.UNC Health.10 silent symptoms of diabetes.Mass General Brigham.How to control blood sugar with diet.American Diabetes Association.Tips for eating well.Johnson EC, Bardis CN, Jansen LT, Adams JD, Kirkland TW, Kavouras SA.Reduced water intake deteriorates glucose regulation in patients with type 2 diabetes.Nutr Res. 2017 Jul;43:25-32. doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2017.05.004Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetic ketoacidosis.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control.10 surprising things that can spike your blood sugar.Amin M, Vahdat Shariatpanahi Z, Vahabzadeh D, Nasiri L, Shargh A.Non-diabetic hyperglycemia and some of its correlates in ICU hospitalized patients receiving enteral nutrition.Maedica (Bucur). 2017 Sep;12(3):174-179.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Testing for diabetes.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Insulin resistance & prediabetes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.American Diabetes Association.Understanding blood glucose and exercise.Colao A, De Block C, Gaztambide MS, Kumar S, Seufert J, Casanueva FF.Managing hyperglycemia in patients with Cushing’s disease treated with pasireotide: medical expert recommendations.Pituitary. 2014;17(2):180-186. doi:10.1007/s11102-013-0483-3Yang X, Zhang R, Jin T, Zhu P, Yao L, Li L,et al.Stress Hyperglycemia Is Independently Associated with Persistent Organ Failure in Acute Pancreatitis.Dig Dis Sci. 2022 May;67(5):1879-1889. doi:10.1007/s10620-021-06982-8.Siddiqui S, Mateen S, Ahmad R, Moin S.A brief insight into the etiology, genetics, and immunology of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).J Assist Reprod Genet. 2022 Nov;39(11):2439-2473. doi:10.1007/s10815-022-02625-7.Fakhry SM, Morse JL, Wilson NY, Waswick WA, Garland JM, Chipko JM,et al.Hyperglycemia in nondiabetic adult trauma patients is associated with worse outcomes than diabetic patients: An analysis of 95,764 patients.J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2022 Sep 1;93(3):316-322. doi:10.1097/TA.0000000000003576.Goyal N, Kaur R, Sud A, Ghorpade N, Gupta M.Non diabetic and stress induced hyperglycemia [SIH] in orthopaedic practice: what do we know so far?J Clin Diagn Res. 2014;8(10):LH01-LH3. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2014/10027.5022Rivas AM, Nugent K.Hyperglycemia, Insulin, and Insulin Resistance in Sepsis.Am J Med Sci. 2021 Mar;361(3):297-302. doi: 10.1016/j.amjms.2020.11.007.Vennard KC, Selen DJ, Gilbert MP.The management of hyperglycemia in noncritically ill hospitalized patients treated with continuous enteral or parenteral nutrition.Endocr Pract. 2018 Oct 2;24(10):900-906. doi:10.4158/EP-2018-0150.Malone JI, Hansen BC.Does obesity cause type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)? Or is it the opposite?.Pediatr Diabetes. 2019 Feb;20(1):5-9. doi:10.1111/pedi.12787.American Diabetes Association.Diabetes and gum disease.Iizuka K.Is the use of artificial sweeteners beneficial for patients with diabetes mellitus? The advantages and disadvantages of artificial sweeteners.Nutrients. 2022 Nov;14(21):4446. doi:10.3390/nu14214446Stanford Medicine.Diabetic-level glucose spikes.UCLA Health.Continuous glucose monitoring is becoming popular among non-diabetics.American Medical Association.Foods that spike a patient’s blood glucose are not what you think.Yale Medicine.Hyperglycemia: symptoms, causes, and treatments.UNC Health.10 silent symptoms of diabetes.Mass General Brigham.How to control blood sugar with diet.American Diabetes Association.Tips for eating well.Johnson EC, Bardis CN, Jansen LT, Adams JD, Kirkland TW, Kavouras SA.Reduced water intake deteriorates glucose regulation in patients with type 2 diabetes.Nutr Res. 2017 Jul;43:25-32. doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2017.05.004Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetic ketoacidosis.
Centers for Disease Control.10 surprising things that can spike your blood sugar.
Amin M, Vahdat Shariatpanahi Z, Vahabzadeh D, Nasiri L, Shargh A.Non-diabetic hyperglycemia and some of its correlates in ICU hospitalized patients receiving enteral nutrition.Maedica (Bucur). 2017 Sep;12(3):174-179.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Testing for diabetes.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Insulin resistance & prediabetes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
American Diabetes Association.Understanding blood glucose and exercise.
Colao A, De Block C, Gaztambide MS, Kumar S, Seufert J, Casanueva FF.Managing hyperglycemia in patients with Cushing’s disease treated with pasireotide: medical expert recommendations.Pituitary. 2014;17(2):180-186. doi:10.1007/s11102-013-0483-3
Yang X, Zhang R, Jin T, Zhu P, Yao L, Li L,et al.Stress Hyperglycemia Is Independently Associated with Persistent Organ Failure in Acute Pancreatitis.Dig Dis Sci. 2022 May;67(5):1879-1889. doi:10.1007/s10620-021-06982-8.
Siddiqui S, Mateen S, Ahmad R, Moin S.A brief insight into the etiology, genetics, and immunology of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).J Assist Reprod Genet. 2022 Nov;39(11):2439-2473. doi:10.1007/s10815-022-02625-7.
Fakhry SM, Morse JL, Wilson NY, Waswick WA, Garland JM, Chipko JM,et al.Hyperglycemia in nondiabetic adult trauma patients is associated with worse outcomes than diabetic patients: An analysis of 95,764 patients.J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2022 Sep 1;93(3):316-322. doi:10.1097/TA.0000000000003576.
Goyal N, Kaur R, Sud A, Ghorpade N, Gupta M.Non diabetic and stress induced hyperglycemia [SIH] in orthopaedic practice: what do we know so far?J Clin Diagn Res. 2014;8(10):LH01-LH3. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2014/10027.5022
Rivas AM, Nugent K.Hyperglycemia, Insulin, and Insulin Resistance in Sepsis.Am J Med Sci. 2021 Mar;361(3):297-302. doi: 10.1016/j.amjms.2020.11.007.
Vennard KC, Selen DJ, Gilbert MP.The management of hyperglycemia in noncritically ill hospitalized patients treated with continuous enteral or parenteral nutrition.Endocr Pract. 2018 Oct 2;24(10):900-906. doi:10.4158/EP-2018-0150.
Malone JI, Hansen BC.Does obesity cause type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)? Or is it the opposite?.Pediatr Diabetes. 2019 Feb;20(1):5-9. doi:10.1111/pedi.12787.
American Diabetes Association.Diabetes and gum disease.
Iizuka K.Is the use of artificial sweeteners beneficial for patients with diabetes mellitus? The advantages and disadvantages of artificial sweeteners.Nutrients. 2022 Nov;14(21):4446. doi:10.3390/nu14214446
Stanford Medicine.Diabetic-level glucose spikes.
UCLA Health.Continuous glucose monitoring is becoming popular among non-diabetics.
American Medical Association.Foods that spike a patient’s blood glucose are not what you think.
Yale Medicine.Hyperglycemia: symptoms, causes, and treatments.
UNC Health.10 silent symptoms of diabetes.
Mass General Brigham.How to control blood sugar with diet.
American Diabetes Association.Tips for eating well.
Johnson EC, Bardis CN, Jansen LT, Adams JD, Kirkland TW, Kavouras SA.Reduced water intake deteriorates glucose regulation in patients with type 2 diabetes.Nutr Res. 2017 Jul;43:25-32. doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2017.05.004
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetic ketoacidosis.
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