Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsInsulin IssuesGeneticsLifestyleFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Hyperglycemia GuideHow Hyperglycemia Is Diagnosed
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Insulin Issues
Genetics
Lifestyle
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Hyperglycemia Guide
There are a host of reasons a person might develop high blood glucose, a condition known ashyperglycemia.
For someone who hasdiabetes, it could be a problem with their treatment or management plan. In the case of an otherwise healthy person, lifestyle factors such as weight gain, too little activity, or smoking could play a role in bumping up blood sugar levels. Pregnancy can also be a risk factor. And everyone experiences increases in blood sugar levels during the early morning.
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When the body digests carbohydrates, it breaks them down into sugar molecules. Glucose is one of these. Glucose is absorbed directly into the bloodstream, but it needs the help of insulin to get into cell tissues to provide them with fuel.
If the body isn’t producing any insulin or enough insulin, glucose builds up in the blood.
According to the American Diabetic Association (ADA), there are a number of reasons this might happen:
Insulin helps transport glucose from the bloodstream with the help of glucose transporters.
The role of genetics in hyperglycemia is best explained in the context of diabetes risk based on family history. The ADA notes that diabetes doesn’t seem to be inherited in a simple pattern. Still, some people are born more likely to develop diabetes than others.The similarity between type 1 and type 2 diabetes is that something in your environment triggers a predisposition to the disease.
In the case of type 1 diabetes, which occurs when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, you need to inherit risk factors from both of your parents before something in your environment is able to trigger it.
Common environmental factors that have been linked to type 1 diabetes include cold weather, viruses, and a person’s diet early in life. It’s less common in people who were breastfed and ate solids later than usual.
Researchers have also noted people who develop diabetes late in life have certain autoantibodies in their blood.
Type 2 diabetes is different from type 1 in that the body becomes resistant to insulin. Research has found that genetics play a more significant role in type 2 diabetes than in type 1 diabetes, but lifestyle habits also factor in.
Daily habits play a much larger role in type 2 diabetes than in type 1 diabetes. Lifestyle risk factors commonly associated with type 2 diabetes include:
Pancreatic disease(pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and cystic fibrosis) and endocrine disorders such asCushing syndromecan cause hyperglycemia, which means high blood sugar.Surgery or injuries that trigger a stress response in the body can also cause it. Pregnant women may develop hyperglycemia in the form of gestational diabetes, and certain medications can raise blood sugar.
8 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.
American Diabetes Association.Hyperglycemia (high blood glucose).
American Diabetes Association.Learn the genetics of diabetes.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Risk factors for type 2 diabetes.
American Heart Association.Understand your risk for diabetes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Smoking and diabetes.
Cleveland Clinic.Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).
Di Luzio R, Dusi R, Mazzotti A, et al.Stress hyperglycemia and complications following traumatic injuries in individuals with/without diabetes: The case of orthopedic surgery.Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2020;13:9-17. doi:10.2147/DMSO.S225796
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