|  | Conditions Treatments | Diabetes

Hyperglycemia and Infection

If your neighbor were to tell you of his daily ritual of jabbing his finger with a needle and celebrating when a healthy-sized drop of blood resulted, you might raise your eyebrows---unless you know about diabetes. Most diabetics perform this bloodletting exercise several times a day to check glucose levels. The goal is to maintain appropriate blood sugar control in hopes of preventing diabetic complications, which can include recurrent and life-threatening infections.

  1. Glycemia

    • According to Stedman's Medical Dictionary, glycemia is the "presence of glucose in blood." Glucose comes from foods or from stores in the liver. MayoClinic.com describes glucose as the main fuel for the cells in our muscles and tissues. Hyperglycemia essentially means beyond normal glucose levels. Because our bodies work best when the system is balanced, and since every organ in our body consists of cells, too much or too little sugar can cause significant health issues.

    Insulin

    • Sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream through digestion. Insulin is a hormone the pancreas secretes when we eat. According to MayoClinic.com, if our cells had microscopic front doors, insulin would be the key that unlocks the door and allows sugar to enter. The pancreas shuts off the insulin when the blood glucose level normalizes. The liver helps when necessary, releasing stored glucose if we skip a meal. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) at diabetes.org notes that normal fasting blood sugar levels are from 80 to 100 milligrams per deciliter.

    Diabetes and Hyperglycemia

    • While it may seem that diabetics have a problem with sugar, the real culprit is insulin. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas produces little or no insulin. The cell doors remain locked. In type 2, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the cells in the body have become resistant to insulin. The ADA reports type 1 diabetes is likely genetic or viral in origin. Type 2 diabetes is most likely related to poor nutrition, weight gain and inactivity. Regardless, the result is too much sugar in the bloodstream and not enough in the cells.

    Infection

    • The ADA warns that frequent infections can actually be symptoms of diabetes. Loosely defined as invasion of a cell or bodily part by a microorganism with the capability of multiplying and causing disease, infection is poison to the body. When healthy, our body has a natural and deadly response to infection, which is the immune system. Unfortunately, cells compose the immune system. They cannot do their job if they lack fuel. Without insulin to unlock the door so that sugar can energize our cells, infection can easily win.

    Treatment

    • Evaluating the level of glucose in the blood is step one in treatment, which is why diabetics check their sugar frequently. For diabetics on insulin, if there is too much sugar present, taking more insulin may be the answer. For those who are type 2 diabetics, diet and/or oral medications may need adjusting. However, the ADA advises that prevention is the best treatment for hyperglycemia, and tight diabetic control under close supervision of your health care provider is essential for that.

Diabetes - Related Articles