High Blood Sugar (Hyperglycemia)

Too much glucose (sugar) in your blood is called hyperglycemia or high blood sugar. High blood sugar can lead to a dangerous condition called ketoacidosis. In severe cases, it can lead to dehydration and coma.

Possible causes of hyperglycemia

• Inadequate treatment plan for diabetes 

• Being sick

• Being under stress

• Taking certain medicines, such as steroids

• Eating too much food, especially carbohydrates

• Being less active than usual

• Not taking enough diabetes medicine

Symptoms of hyperglycemia

Hyperglycemia may not cause symptoms. If you do have symptoms, they may include:

• Thirst

• Frequent need to urinate

• Feeling tired

• Nausea and vomiting

• Itchy, dry skin

• Blurry vision

• Fast breathing and breath that smells fruity 

• Weakness

• Dizziness

• Wounds or skin infections that don’t heal

• Unexplained weight loss if hyperglycemia lasts for more than a few days 

What you should do

Make sure you do the following:

• Check your blood sugar.

• Drink plenty of sugar-free, caffeine-free liquids such as water. Don’t drink fruit juice.

• Check your blood sugar again every 4 hours. If you take insulin or diabetes medicines, follow your sick-day plan for taking medicine. Call your healthcare provider if you are not able to eat.

• Check your blood or urine for ketones as directed.

• Call your healthcare provider if your blood sugar and ketones do not return to your target range.

Preventing high blood sugar

To help keep your blood sugar from getting too high:

• Control stress.

• When you're ill, follow your sick-day plan. 

• Follow your meal plan. Eat only the amount of food on your meal plan

• Follow your exercise plan.

• Take your insulin or diabetes medicines as directed by your healthcare team. Also test your blood sugar as directed. If the plan is not working for you, discuss it with your healthcare provider.

Other things to do

• Carry a medical ID card, a compact USB drive, or wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace. It should say that you have diabetes. It should also say what to do in case you pass out or go into a coma.

• Make sure family, friends, and coworkers know the signs of high blood sugar. Tell them what to do if your blood sugar gets very high and you can’t help yourself.

• Talk to your healthcare team about other things you can do to prevent high blood sugar.