What happen when there is too much of glucose in the blood?
Hyperglycaemia, also called high blood sugar, means there is too much glucose (sugar) in your blood.
Normal blood sugar levels are:
- Between 4 and 6 mmol/L (72 and 108 mg/dL) on waking
- Less than 8 mmol/L (144 mg/dL) 2 hours after eating
High blood sugar is a symptom of diabetes. It happens when your body can’t make enough insulin, or can’t use insulin properly. Insulin helps glucose move from your blood into other parts of your body. There it’s either burned as fuel or stored for future use.
If your blood sugar level stays high for a long time, it can cause other health problems, such as damage to your eyes, nerves, kidneys, heart and blood vessels.
In the short term, high blood sugar levels can make you feel tired, thirsty, and need to pee more often.
If your blood sugar level gets very high, it can cause diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). This is a dangerous condition. Symptoms of DKA can include:
* feeling very thirsty
* passing urine frequently
* feeling sick
* being sick (vomiting)
* tummy (abdominal) pain
* your breath becomes sweet-smelling
* being confused
* drowsiness or becoming unconscious (loss of consciousness)
Seek urgent medical advice if you have symptoms of DKA.
Causes of high blood sugar
High blood sugar is caused by a problem with the way your body produces and uses insulin. This means your body can't move glucose from your blood into your cells.
Insulin resistance – where the cells in your body don’t respond to insulin properly
Too little insulin – where your body doesn’t produce enough insulin
Common causes of high blood sugar include:
* diabetes
* certain diabetes medications
* skipping or delaying meals
* too much physical activity
* stress or emotional upset
* some medicines or supplements
* being ill
How to prevent high blood sugar levels
If you have diabetes, you can help to keep your blood sugar levels under control by:
* taking your diabetes medication as directed by your doctor
* following a healthy diet
* doing regular physical activity
* managing your weight
* monitoring your blood sugar levels regularly
* avoiding stress and emotional upset
* getting enough sleep