Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Hyperglycemia?Diabetes and HyperglycemiaComplicationsTreatmentPreventionFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Hyperglycemia?
Diabetes and Hyperglycemia
Complications
Treatment
Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
Type 2 diabetes increases your risk for episodes ofhyperglycemia. It helps to know the symptoms so you can manage blood glucose and get medical help when needed.
This article will define hyperglycemia, and review its symptoms and complications. Tips on treatment and prevention are also discussed.
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Hyperglycemiais elevated (hyper) blood sugar (glycemia). Cells throughout your body need sugar for energy. But when levels of glucose in the blood are high, it can cause health problems like heart disease and damage to the nerves, eyes, and kidneys.
Blood sugar can be measured with several different lab tests. The chart below describes various blood sugar levels (milligrams per deciliter) and the associated diagnosis.
Type 2 Diabetes With Hyperglycemia
What Is Insulin Resistance?Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body makes insulin, but the cells don’t respond normally to it. Higher and higher levels of insulin are required for glucose to enter the cells, and over time blood sugar builds up in the blood. Some risk factors for insulin resistance are obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, and a family history of diabetes.
What Is Insulin Resistance?
Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body makes insulin, but the cells don’t respond normally to it. Higher and higher levels of insulin are required for glucose to enter the cells, and over time blood sugar builds up in the blood. Some risk factors for insulin resistance are obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, and a family history of diabetes.
In the United States, almost 1 in 10 people have diabetes, with the majority having type 2 diabetes.Diabetes can take years to develop. Since it may not cause any symptoms in the early stages, many people are unaware of having the condition.
Symptoms
Mildly elevated blood sugar levels may not cause any symptoms. However with higher levels, symptoms can include the following:
If blood sugar becomes very elevated, two dangerous conditions can develop:hyperglycemiahyperosmolarsyndrome(HHS) ordiabeticketoacidosis(DKA). Signs of these potentially life-threatening conditions include the following:
Risk Factors
There are manyfactors that can influence the development of diabetesand hyperglycemia, including:
Elevated blood sugar can damage organs throughout the body and increases the risk of the following:
Treating high blood sugar in type 2 diabetes requires a combination of lifestyle, diet, and medication. Lowering blood sugar can decrease the risk of complications. Some people are even able to putdiabetes into remissionand come off blood sugar–lowering medication with these steps.
Lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle can help lower blood sugar and control type 2 diabetes. This can include the following;
Diet
Diet is a major contributor to blood sugar control, and fortunately, it’s something we have a great deal of control over to help get blood sugar under control.
For people with diabetes, eating meals with lowglycemic load(low ability to raise blood sugar) can help prevent hyperglycemia. People with diabetes should consider the following when planning meals:
Medication
If oral medications and dietary and lifestyle changes are not enough to bring blood sugar down, your healthcare provider may recommend injectable medications orinsulin. If you are prescribed insulin, checking your blood sugar at home will be important.
In addition to the blood sugar–lowering medication, your healthcare provider may recommend other drugs to lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and lower cardiovascular disease risk.
You can think of blood sugar as a range form normal to prediabetes to diabetes. It can take years for diabetes to develop, but in the meantime with screening, you can uncover prediabetes and initiate changes todecrease your riskof developing type 2 diabetes.
Lifestyle and dietary changes can also be implemented to prevent a diagnosis of diabetes. Additionally, when prediabetes is diagnosed and you are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, your healthcare provider may prescribe a medication calledmetformin.
Summary
Hyperglycemia, or elevated blood sugar, is a part of type 2 diabetes that can result in complications affecting various organs and increased risk of heart disease. While you may not be able to control all risk factors for type 2 diabetes, you can help prevent it through a healthy lifestyle and diet. Treatment of diabetes involves the same steps as prevention, in addition to medication to lower blood sugar to prevent complications.
Hyperglycemia is a hallmark of type 2 diabetes, diagnosed when fasting blood sugar exceeds 126 mg/dL (normal is less than 100 mg/dL). Chronically high blood sugar, as in type 2 diabetes, damages tissues and organs, including nerves, eyes, kidneys, and blood vessels. Lowering blood sugar to prevent these complications is a major goal of treatment in type 2 diabetes.Learn MoreSigns of Hyperglycemia
Hyperglycemia is a hallmark of type 2 diabetes, diagnosed when fasting blood sugar exceeds 126 mg/dL (normal is less than 100 mg/dL). Chronically high blood sugar, as in type 2 diabetes, damages tissues and organs, including nerves, eyes, kidneys, and blood vessels. Lowering blood sugar to prevent these complications is a major goal of treatment in type 2 diabetes.
Learn MoreSigns of Hyperglycemia
Hyperglycemia goes hand in hand with prediabetes, which is diagnosed when fasting blood sugar is between 100-126 mg/dL (normal is less than 100 mg/dL). This is just below the threshold for diagnosing diabetes (greater than 126 mg/dL). Having prediabetes increases your risk of developing diabetes later on. However, identifying prediabetes early can allow you to initiate strategies to prevent diabetes.Learn MoreDiagnosing Prediabetes
Hyperglycemia goes hand in hand with prediabetes, which is diagnosed when fasting blood sugar is between 100-126 mg/dL (normal is less than 100 mg/dL). This is just below the threshold for diagnosing diabetes (greater than 126 mg/dL). Having prediabetes increases your risk of developing diabetes later on. However, identifying prediabetes early can allow you to initiate strategies to prevent diabetes.
Learn MoreDiagnosing Prediabetes
Learn MoreThe Dangers of Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar Syndrome
16 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.MedlinePlus.Diabetes.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetes tests & diagnosis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.What is diabetes?National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Insulin resistance and prediabetes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Type 2 diabetes.American Diabetes Association.Hyperglycemia (high blood glucose).MedlinePlus.Diabetic hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes risk factors.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prevent diabetes complications.Mottalib A, Sakr M, Shehabeldin M, Hamdy O.Diabetes remission after nonsurgical intensive lifestyle intervention in obese patients with type 2 diabetes.J Diabetes Res. 2015;2015:468704. doi:10.1155/2015/468704Janbozorgi N, Allipour R, Djafarian K, Shab-Bidar S, Badeli M, Safabakhsh M.Water intake and risk of type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2021;15(4):102156. doi:10.1016/j.dsx.2021.05.029Zhu B, Hershberger PE, Kapella MC, Fritschi C.The relationship between sleep disturbance and glycaemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes: An integrative review.J Clin Nurs. 2017;26(23-24):4053-4064. doi:10.1111/jocn.13899Zamani-Alavijeh F, Araban M, Koohestani HR, Karimy M.The effectiveness of stress management training on blood glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes.Diabetol Metab Syndr. 2018;10:39. doi:10.1186/s13098-018-0342-5MedlinePlus.Diabetic diet.Arnett DK, Blumenthal RS, Albert MA, et al.2019 ACC/AHA guideline on the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Circulation. 2019;140(11):e596-e646. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000678American Diabetes Association.3. Prevention or delay of type 2 diabetes:Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes-2019.Diabetes Care. 2019;42(Suppl 1):S29-S33. doi:10.2337/dc19-S003
16 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.MedlinePlus.Diabetes.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetes tests & diagnosis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.What is diabetes?National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Insulin resistance and prediabetes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Type 2 diabetes.American Diabetes Association.Hyperglycemia (high blood glucose).MedlinePlus.Diabetic hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes risk factors.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prevent diabetes complications.Mottalib A, Sakr M, Shehabeldin M, Hamdy O.Diabetes remission after nonsurgical intensive lifestyle intervention in obese patients with type 2 diabetes.J Diabetes Res. 2015;2015:468704. doi:10.1155/2015/468704Janbozorgi N, Allipour R, Djafarian K, Shab-Bidar S, Badeli M, Safabakhsh M.Water intake and risk of type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2021;15(4):102156. doi:10.1016/j.dsx.2021.05.029Zhu B, Hershberger PE, Kapella MC, Fritschi C.The relationship between sleep disturbance and glycaemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes: An integrative review.J Clin Nurs. 2017;26(23-24):4053-4064. doi:10.1111/jocn.13899Zamani-Alavijeh F, Araban M, Koohestani HR, Karimy M.The effectiveness of stress management training on blood glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes.Diabetol Metab Syndr. 2018;10:39. doi:10.1186/s13098-018-0342-5MedlinePlus.Diabetic diet.Arnett DK, Blumenthal RS, Albert MA, et al.2019 ACC/AHA guideline on the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Circulation. 2019;140(11):e596-e646. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000678American Diabetes Association.3. Prevention or delay of type 2 diabetes:Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes-2019.Diabetes Care. 2019;42(Suppl 1):S29-S33. doi:10.2337/dc19-S003
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.
MedlinePlus.Diabetes.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetes tests & diagnosis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.What is diabetes?National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Insulin resistance and prediabetes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Type 2 diabetes.American Diabetes Association.Hyperglycemia (high blood glucose).MedlinePlus.Diabetic hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes risk factors.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prevent diabetes complications.Mottalib A, Sakr M, Shehabeldin M, Hamdy O.Diabetes remission after nonsurgical intensive lifestyle intervention in obese patients with type 2 diabetes.J Diabetes Res. 2015;2015:468704. doi:10.1155/2015/468704Janbozorgi N, Allipour R, Djafarian K, Shab-Bidar S, Badeli M, Safabakhsh M.Water intake and risk of type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2021;15(4):102156. doi:10.1016/j.dsx.2021.05.029Zhu B, Hershberger PE, Kapella MC, Fritschi C.The relationship between sleep disturbance and glycaemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes: An integrative review.J Clin Nurs. 2017;26(23-24):4053-4064. doi:10.1111/jocn.13899Zamani-Alavijeh F, Araban M, Koohestani HR, Karimy M.The effectiveness of stress management training on blood glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes.Diabetol Metab Syndr. 2018;10:39. doi:10.1186/s13098-018-0342-5MedlinePlus.Diabetic diet.Arnett DK, Blumenthal RS, Albert MA, et al.2019 ACC/AHA guideline on the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Circulation. 2019;140(11):e596-e646. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000678American Diabetes Association.3. Prevention or delay of type 2 diabetes:Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes-2019.Diabetes Care. 2019;42(Suppl 1):S29-S33. doi:10.2337/dc19-S003
MedlinePlus.Diabetes.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetes tests & diagnosis.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.What is diabetes?
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Insulin resistance and prediabetes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Type 2 diabetes.
American Diabetes Association.Hyperglycemia (high blood glucose).
MedlinePlus.Diabetic hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes risk factors.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prevent diabetes complications.
Mottalib A, Sakr M, Shehabeldin M, Hamdy O.Diabetes remission after nonsurgical intensive lifestyle intervention in obese patients with type 2 diabetes.J Diabetes Res. 2015;2015:468704. doi:10.1155/2015/468704
Janbozorgi N, Allipour R, Djafarian K, Shab-Bidar S, Badeli M, Safabakhsh M.Water intake and risk of type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2021;15(4):102156. doi:10.1016/j.dsx.2021.05.029
Zhu B, Hershberger PE, Kapella MC, Fritschi C.The relationship between sleep disturbance and glycaemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes: An integrative review.J Clin Nurs. 2017;26(23-24):4053-4064. doi:10.1111/jocn.13899
Zamani-Alavijeh F, Araban M, Koohestani HR, Karimy M.The effectiveness of stress management training on blood glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes.Diabetol Metab Syndr. 2018;10:39. doi:10.1186/s13098-018-0342-5
MedlinePlus.Diabetic diet.
Arnett DK, Blumenthal RS, Albert MA, et al.2019 ACC/AHA guideline on the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Circulation. 2019;140(11):e596-e646. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000678
American Diabetes Association.3. Prevention or delay of type 2 diabetes:Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes-2019.Diabetes Care. 2019;42(Suppl 1):S29-S33. doi:10.2337/dc19-S003
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