Hyperglycemia

Mayo Clinic . “Hyperglycemia in Diabetes - Symptoms and Causes.” Mayo Clinic, 20 Aug. 2022, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hyperglycemia/symptoms-causes/syc-2037363.

This article talks about hyperglycemia and how it is caused and ways to prevent it. Hyperglycemia is when the glucose levels in a diabetic patient’s body exceeds 200 and it can cause severe damage to nerves/ neurons and other parts of the body, it can even turn the blood to a more acidic state. The longer hyperglycemia is left untreated, the more serious the stakes of good health can be for a person with Diabetes. Some early symptoms of hyperglycemia are excessive amounts of urine in large amounts of ketones in the urine, strong feeling of nausea, feeling tired, and or a strong need to rehydrate frequently. If the blood sugar is left untreated then later symptoms may include: nausea, dry mouth, hard time breathing, pain near the abdomen, and the brain might feel confused. This condition can seriously harm nerves and other body organs and even make the blood acidic. The risks to a diabetic's overall health can increase with the length of time hyperglycemia is ignored. Other causes that may lead to hyperglycemia are infections, lack of exercise, medications like steroids, stress, poor diet choices, usage of expired insulin, etc. These can all lead to harm to the body of a diabetic patient. This not only means that there would be dysfunctionality in the pancreas and the blood, but it could also lead to harm in the brain and limbs. 

If the hyperglycemia is left untreated, then it could lead to some long term health risks like cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, blood vessel damage, kidney damage, bone/joint problems, gum infections, and loss of vision. Diabetes affects all of the body when left untreated. This is why we should take good care of our endocrine system as it also makes all the hormones that help all other bodily functions. In addition to gravely damaging nerves and other organs, this illness can also cause the blood to become acidic. The longer hyperglycemia is ignored, the greater the risks to the general health of a diabetic. Detrimental diagnoses that are caused by hyperglycemia are ketoacidosis and Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state. Ketoacidosis is when there is no acting insulin and the blood sugar keeps rising which leads to acidic blood. Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state is when the body is producing insulin. However, the body isn’t using the insulin properly which can also lead to higher blood sugar levels.   To prevent hyperglycemia and damage to other parts of the body, it is important for  diabetic patients to follow a meal plan and to ensure that they are eating the proper foods to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It is also important to frequently monitor the blood sugar throughout the day so that one knows their blood sugars are good. It is also encouraged to exercise. However, if one does engage in physical activity, they should adjust their medication to accommodate the rigor of the activity. Tools such as the Dexcom can help with monitoring blood sugars and the Omnipod can help with efficiently giving insulin to diabetic patients.