High Blood Sugar Can Increase COVID-19 Risk, Even Without Diabetes

Key TakeawaysHaving high blood sugar while in the hospital with COVID-19 can significantly increase a person’s chance of severe illness.Healthcare professionals should screen for, monitor, and treat patients admitted with hyperglycemia.A recent study out of Spain shows that COVID-19 patients admitted to the hospital with high blood glucose (sugar) independent of diabetes have an increased risk of mechanical ventilation use, ICU placement, and death.Researchers examined more than 11,000 patient records pulled from the SEMI-COVID-19 Spanish Registry. These records detailed patients admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 from March 1 to May 30, 2020. After analyzing the data, researchers determined that patients with abnormally high blood glucose levels, also called hyperglycemia, were more than twice as likely to die from the virus as patients with normal blood glucose levels. This November study was published inAnnals of Medicine. High blood sugar levels are generally characterized as a blood glucose reading above 180 mg/dL.“This study is similar to what we were seeing before COVID-19 in regards to hyperglycemia contributing to poor outcomes,”Cecilia C. Low Wang, MD, FACP, professor of medicine in the division of endocrinology, metabolism, and diabetes, at the University Of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus School Of Medicine, tells Verywell. “But the big question now is whether COVID-19 is causing hyperglycemia. This virus brings all sorts of complications.”What This Means For YouMaintaining a normal weight, staying active, and eating a balanced diet is critical to not only avoid Type 2 diabetes but to decrease risk factors that can contribute to poor health outcomes related to illness, especially COVID-19.Proactive Monitoring in the Hospital Decreases RiskThe study emphasizes the importance of screening blood glucose numbers upon hospital admission, and continuously monitoring and treating those with hyperglycemia to help decrease their chances of becoming critically ill.Managing High Blood Sugar Is Key To Reducing COVID-19 Complications: Study“Baseline labs, including blood glucose, are taken from almost everyone upon admission to the hospital,” Low Wang says. “However, high blood glucose numbers are often overlooked and not used to make medical decisions.”She recommends that COVID-19 patients admitted to the hospital with high blood sugar be flagged and monitored throughout their hospital stay. She says patients should also be treated with insulin as needed to help stabilize their glucose numbers and decrease their chances of severe illness, and subsequent death, from the progression of COVID-19, or any illness.High Blood Sugar Levels After SurgeryCauses of HyperglycemiaHyperglycemia is a common development for people in the hospital, especially when they are critically ill and in the ICU. Research has shown that tight control of blood glucose numbers is crucial. If left untreated, hyperglycemia can result in a 31% increased mortality rate.The Hormone Health Network explains that many conditions can cause or worsen hyperglycemia, even for those who do not have a history of diabetes.These common causes include:Physical stress of illness, trauma, or surgeryDecrease in physical activitySteroids like prednisone and some other medicinesLiquid food given through a feeding tube or nutrition given intravenouslyCertain medical conditions such as Cushing disease or syndromeThe use of dexamethasone—a corticosteroid that can cause hyperglycemia—has been highlighted in the media as a possible COVID-19 therapy drug that has shown to decrease mortality in some critically ill patients. Although this treatment has been a positive outcome for many people, a trial out of the U.K. found that its use can cause unwarranted and dangerous hyperglycemic levels in those with diabetes, pre-diabetes, and even expose undiagnosed diabetes. As a result, the Joint British Diabetes Societies (JBDS) published guidelines on how to treat COVID-19 patients with and without diabetes receiving steroid therapy.Why High Blood Sugar Is DangerousThe effects of untreated hyperglycemia can wreak havoc on the body, especially for those who are critically ill. If blood glucose numbers are not tightly managed in the hospital, the Hormone Health Network says the following problems may occur:Longer hospital staySlower wound healingMore infectionsMore disability after discharge from the hospitalHigher risk of deathIncreased risk for getting readmitted to the hospitalHow to Prevent Hyperglycemia and Type 2 DiabetesType 2 diabetesis a condition that can be prevented and reversed with the implementation of daily life style changes, and in the midst of a pandemic, it is important to keep your body healthy and active to decrease the chances of severe illness if you do contract COVID-19.How Hyperglycemia Is Diagnosed“Everyone is at risk of getting COVID-19,”Mary de Groot, PhD, associate professor of medicine and acting director of the Diabetes Translational Research Center at Indiana University, tells Verywell. “If you are diabetic, or pre-diabetic, you need to take all the steps to manage your blood sugar. Work with your provider to keep your numbers as normal as possible, eat healthy, and exercise. It is important to decrease your risk of exposure to COVID-19.”Losing a small amount of weight is one of the ways to prevent Type 2 diabetes. De Groot explains that dropping just 5-7% of your weight can help keep diabetes a bay. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also provides a practical guide to help you decrease your chances of developing Type 2 diabetes.How to Prepare for Cataract Surgery When You Have DiabetesThe information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.

Key Takeaways

Having high blood sugar while in the hospital with COVID-19 can significantly increase a person’s chance of severe illness.Healthcare professionals should screen for, monitor, and treat patients admitted with hyperglycemia.

A recent study out of Spain shows that COVID-19 patients admitted to the hospital with high blood glucose (sugar) independent of diabetes have an increased risk of mechanical ventilation use, ICU placement, and death.

Researchers examined more than 11,000 patient records pulled from the SEMI-COVID-19 Spanish Registry. These records detailed patients admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 from March 1 to May 30, 2020. After analyzing the data, researchers determined that patients with abnormally high blood glucose levels, also called hyperglycemia, were more than twice as likely to die from the virus as patients with normal blood glucose levels. This November study was published inAnnals of Medicine.

High blood sugar levels are generally characterized as a blood glucose reading above 180 mg/dL.

“This study is similar to what we were seeing before COVID-19 in regards to hyperglycemia contributing to poor outcomes,”Cecilia C. Low Wang, MD, FACP, professor of medicine in the division of endocrinology, metabolism, and diabetes, at the University Of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus School Of Medicine, tells Verywell. “But the big question now is whether COVID-19 is causing hyperglycemia. This virus brings all sorts of complications.”

What This Means For YouMaintaining a normal weight, staying active, and eating a balanced diet is critical to not only avoid Type 2 diabetes but to decrease risk factors that can contribute to poor health outcomes related to illness, especially COVID-19.

What This Means For You

Maintaining a normal weight, staying active, and eating a balanced diet is critical to not only avoid Type 2 diabetes but to decrease risk factors that can contribute to poor health outcomes related to illness, especially COVID-19.

Proactive Monitoring in the Hospital Decreases Risk

The study emphasizes the importance of screening blood glucose numbers upon hospital admission, and continuously monitoring and treating those with hyperglycemia to help decrease their chances of becoming critically ill.

Managing High Blood Sugar Is Key To Reducing COVID-19 Complications: Study

“Baseline labs, including blood glucose, are taken from almost everyone upon admission to the hospital,” Low Wang says. “However, high blood glucose numbers are often overlooked and not used to make medical decisions.”

She recommends that COVID-19 patients admitted to the hospital with high blood sugar be flagged and monitored throughout their hospital stay. She says patients should also be treated with insulin as needed to help stabilize their glucose numbers and decrease their chances of severe illness, and subsequent death, from the progression of COVID-19, or any illness.

High Blood Sugar Levels After Surgery

Causes of Hyperglycemia

Hyperglycemia is a common development for people in the hospital, especially when they are critically ill and in the ICU. Research has shown that tight control of blood glucose numbers is crucial. If left untreated, hyperglycemia can result in a 31% increased mortality rate.

The Hormone Health Network explains that many conditions can cause or worsen hyperglycemia, even for those who do not have a history of diabetes.These common causes include:

The use of dexamethasone—a corticosteroid that can cause hyperglycemia—has been highlighted in the media as a possible COVID-19 therapy drug that has shown to decrease mortality in some critically ill patients. Although this treatment has been a positive outcome for many people, a trial out of the U.K. found that its use can cause unwarranted and dangerous hyperglycemic levels in those with diabetes, pre-diabetes, and even expose undiagnosed diabetes. As a result, the Joint British Diabetes Societies (JBDS) published guidelines on how to treat COVID-19 patients with and without diabetes receiving steroid therapy.

Why High Blood Sugar Is DangerousThe effects of untreated hyperglycemia can wreak havoc on the body, especially for those who are critically ill. If blood glucose numbers are not tightly managed in the hospital, the Hormone Health Network says the following problems may occur:Longer hospital staySlower wound healingMore infectionsMore disability after discharge from the hospitalHigher risk of deathIncreased risk for getting readmitted to the hospital

Why High Blood Sugar Is Dangerous

The effects of untreated hyperglycemia can wreak havoc on the body, especially for those who are critically ill. If blood glucose numbers are not tightly managed in the hospital, the Hormone Health Network says the following problems may occur:Longer hospital staySlower wound healingMore infectionsMore disability after discharge from the hospitalHigher risk of deathIncreased risk for getting readmitted to the hospital

How to Prevent Hyperglycemia and Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetesis a condition that can be prevented and reversed with the implementation of daily life style changes, and in the midst of a pandemic, it is important to keep your body healthy and active to decrease the chances of severe illness if you do contract COVID-19.

How Hyperglycemia Is Diagnosed

“Everyone is at risk of getting COVID-19,”Mary de Groot, PhD, associate professor of medicine and acting director of the Diabetes Translational Research Center at Indiana University, tells Verywell. “If you are diabetic, or pre-diabetic, you need to take all the steps to manage your blood sugar. Work with your provider to keep your numbers as normal as possible, eat healthy, and exercise. It is important to decrease your risk of exposure to COVID-19.”

Losing a small amount of weight is one of the ways to prevent Type 2 diabetes. De Groot explains that dropping just 5-7% of your weight can help keep diabetes a bay. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also provides a practical guide to help you decrease your chances of developing Type 2 diabetes.

How to Prepare for Cataract Surgery When You Have Diabetes

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.

5 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.Carrasco-Sanchez F, Lopez-Carmona M, Martinez-Marcos F, Perez-Belmonte L, Hidalgo-Jimenez A, Buonaiuto V, et al.Admission hyperglycemia as a predictor of mortality in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 regardless of diabetes status: data from the Spanish SEMI-COVID-19 Registry.Annals of Medicine.doi:10.1080/07853890.2020.1836566Godinjak A, Iglica A, Burekovic A, Jusufovic S, Ajanovic A, Tancica I, Kukulijac A.Hyperglycemia in critically ill patients: Management and prognosis.Medical Archives. doi:10.5455/medarh.2015.69.157-160Hormone Health Network.Hypoglycemia in the Hospital.Rayman G, Lumb A, Kennon B, Cottrell C, Nagi D, Page E, et al.Dexamethasone therapy in COVID‐19 patients: implications and guidance for the management of blood glucose in people with and without diabetes.Diabetic Medicine.doi:10.1111/dme.14378Rayman G, Lumb A, Kennon B, Cottrell C, Nagi D, Page E, et al.Guidance on the management of Diabetic Ketoacidosis in the exceptional circumstances of the COVID‐19 pandemic.Diabetic Medicine.doi:10.1111/dme.14328

5 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.Carrasco-Sanchez F, Lopez-Carmona M, Martinez-Marcos F, Perez-Belmonte L, Hidalgo-Jimenez A, Buonaiuto V, et al.Admission hyperglycemia as a predictor of mortality in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 regardless of diabetes status: data from the Spanish SEMI-COVID-19 Registry.Annals of Medicine.doi:10.1080/07853890.2020.1836566Godinjak A, Iglica A, Burekovic A, Jusufovic S, Ajanovic A, Tancica I, Kukulijac A.Hyperglycemia in critically ill patients: Management and prognosis.Medical Archives. doi:10.5455/medarh.2015.69.157-160Hormone Health Network.Hypoglycemia in the Hospital.Rayman G, Lumb A, Kennon B, Cottrell C, Nagi D, Page E, et al.Dexamethasone therapy in COVID‐19 patients: implications and guidance for the management of blood glucose in people with and without diabetes.Diabetic Medicine.doi:10.1111/dme.14378Rayman G, Lumb A, Kennon B, Cottrell C, Nagi D, Page E, et al.Guidance on the management of Diabetic Ketoacidosis in the exceptional circumstances of the COVID‐19 pandemic.Diabetic Medicine.doi:10.1111/dme.14328

Carrasco-Sanchez F, Lopez-Carmona M, Martinez-Marcos F, Perez-Belmonte L, Hidalgo-Jimenez A, Buonaiuto V, et al.Admission hyperglycemia as a predictor of mortality in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 regardless of diabetes status: data from the Spanish SEMI-COVID-19 Registry.Annals of Medicine.doi:10.1080/07853890.2020.1836566Godinjak A, Iglica A, Burekovic A, Jusufovic S, Ajanovic A, Tancica I, Kukulijac A.Hyperglycemia in critically ill patients: Management and prognosis.Medical Archives. doi:10.5455/medarh.2015.69.157-160Hormone Health Network.Hypoglycemia in the Hospital.Rayman G, Lumb A, Kennon B, Cottrell C, Nagi D, Page E, et al.Dexamethasone therapy in COVID‐19 patients: implications and guidance for the management of blood glucose in people with and without diabetes.Diabetic Medicine.doi:10.1111/dme.14378Rayman G, Lumb A, Kennon B, Cottrell C, Nagi D, Page E, et al.Guidance on the management of Diabetic Ketoacidosis in the exceptional circumstances of the COVID‐19 pandemic.Diabetic Medicine.doi:10.1111/dme.14328

Godinjak A, Iglica A, Burekovic A, Jusufovic S, Ajanovic A, Tancica I, Kukulijac A.Hyperglycemia in critically ill patients: Management and prognosis.Medical Archives. doi:10.5455/medarh.2015.69.157-160

Hormone Health Network.Hypoglycemia in the Hospital.

Rayman G, Lumb A, Kennon B, Cottrell C, Nagi D, Page E, et al.Dexamethasone therapy in COVID‐19 patients: implications and guidance for the management of blood glucose in people with and without diabetes.Diabetic Medicine.doi:10.1111/dme.14378

Rayman G, Lumb A, Kennon B, Cottrell C, Nagi D, Page E, et al.Guidance on the management of Diabetic Ketoacidosis in the exceptional circumstances of the COVID‐19 pandemic.Diabetic Medicine.doi:10.1111/dme.14328

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Key Takeaways#

What This Means For You#

Proactive Monitoring in the Hospital Decreases Risk#

Causes of Hyperglycemia#

Why High Blood Sugar Is Dangerous#

How to Prevent Hyperglycemia and Type 2 Diabetes#