Last Update: October 22, ; Next update: Too little sugar in the bloodstream hypoglycemia is usually a side effect of treatment with blood-sugar-lowering medication. Diabetes is a metabolic disease in which there's a problem with insulin a hormone.

It can affect your health in many ways. In type 1 diabetes, the body only produces very little insulin, or none at all. This is equivalent to a blood sugar concentration of between 3. It describes the amount of a certain substance per liter.

If someone has readings over 7. These high blood sugar levels mainly occur if there isn't enough insulin or the insulin doesn't work properly. Without the effect of insulin, the organs can't make good use of the sugar in the blood, so the sugar builds up.

If type 1 diabetes is left untreated, blood sugar levels can increase to over Such high levels tend to be uncommon in type 2 diabetes. Blood sugar levels below 3. But, as you can see in the illustration below, there are no clear-cut borders between normal blood sugar levels and too high or too low blood sugar levels.

Hyperglycemia doesn't always have immediately noticeable effects. Someone might have it for years without having any physical symptoms. But very high blood sugar can cause the following symptoms:. If someone has extremely high blood sugar levels, they may feel confused and drowsy or even lose consciousness diabetic coma.

If you have the above symptoms over a long period of time or if they keep occurring, it's important to see a doctor. They could be a sign of diabetes. If these symptoms occur in people who have already been diagnosed with diabetes, they could be a sign that the treatment is no longer effective enough.

Then medication can be prescribed or adjusted to make your blood sugar levels go back down. You may stay at the hospital while your blood sugar levels are being stabilized. If you are feeling drowsy, confused or lose consciousness, the emergency services should be called in Germany and many other countries, in the U.

Low blood sugar is most common in people who use insulin or take certain tablets to reduce high blood sugar. This is because things like unexpected physical activity, eating too little food or drinking too much alcohol can mean that you need less insulin than you thought, causing your blood sugar to drop too low.

The severity of these symptoms depends on the blood sugar levels and can vary from person to person. Mild hypoglycemia doesn't usually have any serious health effects.

But severe hypoglycemia can lead to a loss of consciousness and become life-threatening. Treatment may include adjustments in diabetes medication, exercise, and eating less during meals. Wearing a medical ID is essential for people with diabetes, as this can impact other treatments.

Low blood sugar symptoms range in severity and some cases can be life-threatening. Both diabetes and non-diabetes related hypoglycemia decrease blood…. Brittle diabetes is a rare form of diabetes that involves severe changes in blood sugar levels. Learn about its causes, risk factors, symptoms, and….

Researchers said baricitinib, a drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, showed promise in a clinical trial in helping slow the progression of type 1…. A new review indicates that insulin—used to manage diabetes—can be kept at room temperature for months without losing its potency. A study in rat models of diabetes suggests that spinach extract — both water- and alcohol-based — may help promote wound healing, which occurs very….

My podcast changed me Can 'biological race' explain disparities in health? Why Parkinson's research is zooming in on the gut Tools General Health Drugs A-Z Health Hubs Health Tools Find a Doctor BMI Calculators and Charts Blood Pressure Chart: Ranges and Guide Breast Cancer: Self-Examination Guide Sleep Calculator Quizzes RA Myths vs Facts Type 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood Sugar Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or Fiction Connect About Medical News Today Who We Are Our Editorial Process Content Integrity Conscious Language Newsletters Sign Up Follow Us.

Medical News Today. Health Conditions Health Products Discover Tools Connect. What is hyperglycemia? Symptoms, treatments, causes, and all else you need to know.

Medically reviewed by Adam Bernstein, MD, ScD — By Adam Felman — Updated on May 15, Symptoms Treatment Causes Hypoglycemia With diabetes Complications Summary Hyperglycemia refers to high levels of sugar, or glucose, in the blood.

Hyperglycemia vs. Hyperglycemia with diabetes. How we reviewed this article: Sources. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations.

We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles.

You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Share this article.

Latest news Ovarian tissue freezing may help delay, and even prevent menopause. RSV vaccine errors in babies, pregnant people: Should you be worried? Scientists discover biological mechanism of hearing loss caused by loud noise — and find a way to prevent it. How gastric bypass surgery can help with type 2 diabetes remission.

Atlantic diet may help prevent metabolic syndrome. Related Coverage. What are low blood sugar symptoms? Medically reviewed by Shilpa Amin, M. What to know about brittle diabetes Medically reviewed by Kelly Wood, MD. Rheumatoid arthritis drug shows promise as type 1 diabetes treatment Researchers said baricitinib, a drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, showed promise in a clinical trial in helping slow the progression of type 1… READ MORE.

Insulin can be stored at room temperature for months without losing potency, study finds A new review indicates that insulin—used to manage diabetes—can be kept at room temperature for months without losing its potency.

READ MORE. Spinach extract may help diabetic wounds heal faster, study shows A study in rat models of diabetes suggests that spinach extract — both water- and alcohol-based — may help promote wound healing, which occurs very… READ MORE.

Home treatment Talk to your health care provider about managing your blood sugar. Your health care provider may suggest the following: Get physical.

Regular exercise is often an effective way to control blood sugar. But don't exercise if you have ketones in your urine. This can drive your blood sugar even higher.

Take your medication as directed. If you develop hyperglycemia often, your health care provider may adjust the dosage or timing of your medication. Follow your diabetes eating plan. It helps to eat smaller portions and avoid sugary beverages and frequent snacking.

If you're having trouble sticking to your meal plan, ask your health care provider or dietitian for help. Check your blood sugar. Monitor your blood glucose as directed by your health care provider. Check more often if you're sick or if you're concerned about severe hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia.

Adjust your insulin doses. Changes to your insulin program or a supplement of short-acting insulin can help control hyperglycemia. A supplement is an extra dose of insulin used to help temporarily correct a high blood sugar level.

Ask your health care provider how often you need an insulin supplement if you have high blood sugar. Emergency treatment for severe hyperglycemia If you have signs and symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis or hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, you may be treated in the emergency room or admitted to the hospital.

Treatment usually includes: Fluid replacement. You'll receive fluids — usually through a vein intravenously — until your body has the fluids it needs.

This replaces fluids you've lost through urination. It also helps dilute the extra sugar in your blood. Electrolyte replacement. Electrolytes are minerals in your blood that are necessary for your tissues to work properly.

A lack of insulin can lower the level of electrolytes in your blood. You'll receive electrolytes through your veins to help keep your heart, muscles and nerve cells working the way they should.

Insulin therapy. Insulin reverses the processes that cause ketones to build up in your blood. Along with fluids and electrolytes, you'll receive insulin therapy — usually through a vein. Request an appointment. What you can do Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. If your health care provider is going to test your blood sugar, you may need to stop eating or drinking anything but water for up to eight hours before your appointment.

When you're making an appointment, ask if there are any restrictions on eating or drinking. Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes. Make a list of all medications, vitamins and supplements you take.

Create a record of metered glucose values. Give your health care provider a written or printed record of your blood glucose values, times and medication. Using the record, your health care provider can recognize trends and offer advice on how to prevent hyperglycemia or adjust your medication to treat hyperglycemia.

Write down questions to ask your health care provider. If you need more information about your diabetes management, be sure to ask. Check if you need prescription refills.

Your health care provider can renew your prescriptions while you're at the appointment. For hyperglycemia, questions you may want to ask include: How often do I need to monitor my blood sugar? What is my target range?

How do diet and exercise affect my blood sugar? When do I test for ketones? How can I prevent high blood sugar? Do I need to worry about low blood sugar? What are the symptoms I need to watch for? Will I need follow-up care?

The long-term benefits and risks of using one agent over another in the absence of diagnosed CVD or high atherosclerotic CVD ASCVD risk are less clear.

Thus, the results of these trials are most applicable to patients similar to the trial population and not to all patients with type 2 diabetes [ 2,60 ]. Cardiovascular benefit has been demonstrated for some of these medications when taken in combination with metformin , but benefit has not been definitively established in drug-naïve patients at low to moderate cardiovascular risk.

See 'Without established cardiovascular or kidney disease' above. The cardiovascular effects of each diabetes drug when data are available is reviewed in the individual topics.

See "Metformin in the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus", section on 'Cardiovascular effects' and "Sulfonylureas and meglitinides in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus", section on 'Cardiovascular effects' and "Glucagon-like peptide 1-based therapies for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus", section on 'Cardiovascular effects' and "Thiazolidinediones in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus", section on 'Cardiovascular effects' and "Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 DPP-4 inhibitors for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus", section on 'Cardiovascular effects' and "Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors for the treatment of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus", section on 'Cardiovascular effects' and "Insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus".

They can reduce A1C values slightly 0. They act predominantly by lowering glucose concentrations after meals but may be poorly tolerated because of flatulence and other gastrointestinal GI side effects.

However, if they are started at a low dose 25 mg before meals and slowly increased, they can be effective in people who follow high-carbohydrate diets. See "Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors for treatment of diabetes mellitus".

Pramlintide is only approved for use in patients also taking prandial insulin, and therefore, it is not generally used in patients with type 2 diabetes.

It also has frequent GI side effects. See "Amylin analogs for the treatment of diabetes mellitus". In , another inhaled insulin preparation was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration FDA.

Inhaled insulin causes a very rapid rise in serum insulin concentration similar to that after subcutaneous rapid-acting insulins and faster than that after subcutaneous regular insulin. It is designed to be used to manage postprandial glucose levels.

Inhaled insulin may cause a transient cough with each inhalation, and it requires pulmonary monitoring. It is used infrequently in patients with type 2 diabetes.

See "Inhaled insulin therapy in diabetes mellitus". Colesevelam's mechanism of action to improve glycemia is uncertain [ 64 ]. One possibility is that bile acid sequestrants act in the GI tract to reduce glucose absorption. In a meta-analysis of five short-term trials 16 to 26 weeks in patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately treated with oral agents or insulin, the addition of colesevelam compared with placebo modestly reduced A1C levels mean difference 0.

The meta-analysis was limited by the high or unclear risk of bias in the individual trials. Side effects can include constipation, nausea, and dyspepsia. In contrast to its effects on LDL cholesterol, colesevelam increases triglyceride concentrations by approximately 20 percent [ 66,67 ]. The clinical implications of this increase are unknown.

See "Lipoprotein classification, metabolism, and role in atherosclerosis", section on 'Apolipoprotein C-III'. Given the modest glucose-lowering effectiveness, expense, and limited clinical experience, we typically do not recommend colesevelam to improve glycemic management in patients with type 2 diabetes.

See "Management of hyperprolactinemia", section on 'Overview of dopamine agonists'. A quick-release formulation of bromocriptine has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus [ 68 ]. In short-term clinical trials in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, bromocriptine up to 4.

Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and headache [ 70 ]. The mechanism of action in reducing blood sugar is unknown. Given its modest glucose-lowering effect, very frequent GI side effects, and the availability of more effective drugs, we do not recommend bromocriptine for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

BARIATRIC METABOLIC SURGERY — In patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity, bariatric and metabolic surgical procedures that result in sustained, major weight loss have been shown to lead to at least temporary remission of diabetes in a substantial fraction of patients. Bariatric surgical procedures are targeted at weight loss in the setting of obesity; the term "metabolic surgery" is used when a major goal of surgery is to improve diabetes or other metabolic diseases eg, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Patient selection — Surgical treatment of obesity is an option to treat type 2 diabetes in appropriate surgical candidates with [ 71 ]:. Surgical treatment has also been endorsed in patients with type 2 diabetes with BMI 30 to Given the increasing availability of potent GLPbased therapies and lack of comparative effectiveness data for bariatric surgery and these potent agents, we review these options with our patients and engage in shared decision-making.

See "Initial management of hyperglycemia in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus", section on 'Diabetes education' and "Bariatric surgery for management of obesity: Indications and preoperative preparation", section on 'Indications'.

Outcomes — Unblinded trials have compared bariatric surgery with medical therapy for the treatment of type 2 diabetes see "Outcomes of bariatric surgery", section on 'Diabetes mellitus'.

However, relapse of diabetes usually occurs over time, with 35 to 50 percent of patients who initially achieved diabetes remission after surgery experiencing a recurrence [ 72,75 ].

Nevertheless, bariatric surgery improves glycemia substantially and significantly more than medication therapy, and most patients have marked improvement in glycemic management for at least 5 to 15 years after surgery.

The effects of bariatric surgery on diabetes-related complications are reviewed in detail elsewhere. See "Outcomes of bariatric surgery", section on 'Diabetic complications'. Risks and concerns — Despite these impressive metabolic results, concerns remain about acute postoperative complications including the need for reoperations and rehospitalizations and rare, but potentially severe, adverse events; the long-term success rates in maintaining weight loss [ 71,80,81 ]; and the reproducibility of the results in patients with an extensive history of diabetes or with different surgical teams [ 82 ].

Some weight regain is typical within two to three years of bariatric procedures, and different procedures result in different levels of weight loss and corresponding reductions in glycemia. Bariatric surgical procedures are reviewed in detail elsewhere.

See "Bariatric procedures for the management of severe obesity: Descriptions" and "Bariatric surgery for management of obesity: Indications and preoperative preparation" and "Bariatric operations: Early fewer than 30 days morbidity and mortality".

SOCIETY GUIDELINE LINKS — Links to society and government-sponsored guidelines from selected countries and regions around the world are provided separately. See "Society guideline links: Diabetes mellitus in adults" and "Society guideline links: Diabetes mellitus in children" and "Society guideline links: Diabetic kidney disease".

These articles are best for patients who want a general overview and who prefer short, easy-to-read materials. Beyond the Basics patient education pieces are longer, more sophisticated, and more detailed. These articles are written at the 10 th to 12 th grade reading level and are best for patients who want in-depth information and are comfortable with some medical jargon.

Here are the patient education articles that are relevant to this topic. We encourage you to print or e-mail these topics to your patients. You can also locate patient education articles on a variety of subjects by searching on "patient info" and the keyword s of interest.

This decision is based on glycated hemoglobin A1C assay results calculator 1 typically performed every three to six months after initial therapy. After a successful initial response to lifestyle intervention and oral therapy, the majority of patients do not maintain target A1C levels during the subsequent three to five years.

See 'Indications for a second agent' above. Options include glucagon-like peptide 1 GLP-1 receptor agonists, a dual-acting GLP-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide GIP receptor agonist tirzepatide , sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 SGLT2 inhibitors, short-acting sulfonylureas eg, glipizide , glimepiride , repaglinide if sulfonylurea not chosen as initial therapy , insulin, dipeptidyl peptidase 4 DPP-4 inhibitors, and pioglitazone figure 1 and table 2.

For patients with persistent hyperglycemia while taking a maximally tolerated dose of metformin, the choice of a second medication should be individualized based on efficacy, risk for hypoglycemia, the patient's comorbid conditions, impact on weight, side effects, and cost.

These agents have been shown to have the best glycemic efficacy algorithm 1. Gastrointestinal GI side effects, contraindications, and cost may limit their use.

To select a medication, we use shared decision-making with a focus on beneficial and adverse effects within the context of the degree of hyperglycemia as well as a patient's comorbidities and preferences algorithm 2. See 'Established cardiovascular or kidney disease' above.

The majority of patients in the cardiovascular and renal outcomes trials had established cardiovascular disease CVD or diabetic kidney disease DKD with severely increased albuminuria, and therefore, these are the primary indications for one of these drugs.

Patients at high CVD risk but without a prior event might benefit, but the data are less supportive. Similarly, patients without severely increased albuminuria have some benefit, but the absolute benefits are greater among those with severely increased albuminuria. The choice of an alternative glucose-lowering medication is guided by efficacy, patient comorbidities, preferences, side effects, and cost.

algorithm 2. See 'Dual agent failure' above. For most patients who do not achieve target A1C with initial dual therapy, we suggest starting insulin or a GLP-1 receptor agonist Grade 2B if neither already chosen as a second agent. In patients on sulfonylureas and metformin who are starting insulin therapy, sulfonylureas are generally tapered and discontinued, while metformin is continued.

In patients on DPP-4 inhibitors who are starting a GLP-1 receptor agonist or dual-acting GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist, the DPP-4 inhibitor is discontinued, while metformin is continued.

See 'Dual agent failure' above and 'Insulin initiation and intensification' above. Related Pathway s : Diabetes: Initial therapy for non-pregnant adults with type 2 DM. An alternative is two oral agents and a GLP-1 receptor agonist or dual-acting GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist, particularly for patients in whom weight loss or avoidance of hypoglycemia is a primary consideration.

These GLPbased therapies should not be combined with DPP-4 inhibitors. Another option for patients close to glycemic goals is three oral agents eg, metformin , sulfonylurea plus: DPP-4 inhibitor, SGLT2 inhibitor, or pioglitazone. Although guidelines suggest combining SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists, we do not usually add an SGLT2 inhibitor to GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy for management of hyperglycemia alone, given the absence of data showing additive cardiovascular and kidney benefit and increased patient burden cost, polypharmacy, adverse effects.

Bariatric surgery may also be an option in patients with lower BMI 30 to Patients seeking bariatric surgery should be counseled to develop coping skills, eliminate maladaptive behavior, and understand the risks and benefits of the surgery.

See 'Bariatric metabolic surgery' above and "Bariatric surgery for management of obesity: Indications and preoperative preparation", section on 'Preoperative counseling'. Why UpToDate? Product Editorial Subscription Options Subscribe Sign in.

Learn how UpToDate can help you. Select the option that best describes you. View Topic. Font Size Small Normal Large. Management of persistent hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Formulary drug information for this topic. No drug references linked in this topic. Find in topic Formulary Print Share.

View in. Language Chinese English. Author: Deborah J Wexler, MD, MSc Section Editor: David M Nathan, MD Deputy Editor: Katya Rubinow, MD Contributor Disclosures. All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. Literature review current through: Jan This topic last updated: Jan 11, Pharmacologic Approaches to Glycemic Treatment: Standards of Care in Diabetes Diabetes Care ; S Davies MJ, Aroda VR, Collins BS, et al.

Management of hyperglycaemia in type 2 diabetes, A consensus report by the American Diabetes Association ADA and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes EASD. Diabetologia ; Kirkman MS, Briscoe VJ, Clark N, et al. Diabetes in older adults. Diabetes Care ; Wei N, Zheng H, Nathan DM.

Empirically establishing blood glucose targets to achieve HbA1c goals. American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee. Glycemic Goals and Hypoglycemia: Standards of Care in Diabetes Intensive blood-glucose control with sulphonylureas or insulin compared with conventional treatment and risk of complications in patients with type 2 diabetes UKPDS UK Prospective Diabetes Study UKPDS Group.

Lancet ; United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study UKPDS. BMJ ; prospective diabetes study Overview of 6 years' therapy of type II diabetes: a progressive disease. Prospective Diabetes Study Group. Diabetes ; Turner RC, Cull CA, Frighi V, Holman RR.

Glycemic control with diet, sulfonylurea, metformin, or insulin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: progressive requirement for multiple therapies UKPDS JAMA ; GRADE Study Research Group, Nathan DM, Lachin JM, et al. Glycemia Reduction in Type 2 Diabetes - Glycemic Outcomes. N Engl J Med ; Bressler P, DeFronzo RA.

Drugs and diabetes. Diabetes Reviews ; Brown JB, Nichols GA, Perry A. The burden of treatment failure in type 2 diabetes. Shah BR, Hux JE, Laupacis A, et al. Clinical inertia in response to inadequate glycemic control: do specialists differ from primary care physicians?

Ziemer DC, Doyle JP, Barnes CS, et al. An intervention to overcome clinical inertia and improve diabetes mellitus control in a primary care setting: Improving Primary Care of African Americans with Diabetes IPCAAD 8. Arch Intern Med ; Grant RW, Buse JB, Meigs JB, University HealthSystem Consortium UHC Diabetes Benchmarking Project Team.

Quality of diabetes care in U. academic medical centers: low rates of medical regimen change. Fanning EL, Selwyn BJ, Larme AC, DeFronzo RA. Improving efficacy of diabetes management using treatment algorithms in a mainly Hispanic population.

Grant RW, Cagliero E, Sullivan CM, et al. A controlled trial of population management: diabetes mellitus: putting evidence into practice DM-PEP.

Das SR, Everett BM, Birtcher KK, et al. J Am Coll Cardiol ; Tsapas A, Avgerinos I, Karagiannis T, et al. Comparative Effectiveness of Glucose-Lowering Drugs for Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis.

Ann Intern Med ; Maruthur NM, Tseng E, Hutfless S, et al. Diabetes Medications as Monotherapy or Metformin-Based Combination Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Palmer SC, Mavridis D, Nicolucci A, et al. Comparison of Clinical Outcomes and Adverse Events Associated With Glucose-Lowering Drugs in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Meta-analysis.

Rodbard HW, Rosenstock J, Canani LH, et al. Research Clinical Trials Journal Articles. Resources Find an Expert. For You Children Patient Handouts. What is blood glucose? What is hyperglycemia? What causes hyperglycemia? What are the symptoms of hyperglycemia? The symptoms of hyperglycemia include: Feeling thirsty Feeling tired or weak Headaches Urinating peeing often Blurred vision If you are diabetic and you often have high blood glucose levels or the symptoms of hyperglycemia, talk with your health care team.

What other problems can hyperglycemia cause? The symptoms of DKA may include: Trouble breathing Nausea or vomiting Pain in your abdomen belly Confusion Feeling very tired or sleepy If you have an an at-home test for ketones, check your ketone level every 4 to 6 hours when your blood glucose is very high or when you are having these symptoms.

How is hyperglycemia diagnosed? What are the treatments for hyperglycemia? Can hyperglycemia be prevented? To manage your diabetes, it's important to: Follow your diabetes meal plan Get regular physical activity If you need diabetes medicines, take them correctly Regularly check your blood glucose level Get regular checkups with your health care team.

Start Here. Hyperglycemia High Blood Glucose American Diabetes Association Hyperglycemia in Diabetes Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Also in Spanish What Is High Blood Glucose? Joslin Diabetes Center. Diagnosis and Tests. A1C: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine Also in Spanish Blood Glucose Test National Library of Medicine Also in Spanish.

Related Issues. Diabetes and DKA Ketoacidosis American Diabetes Association Diabetic Ketoacidosis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Clinical Trials. gov: Hyperglycemia National Institutes of Health. Article: Super Bolus-A Remedy for a High Glycemic Index Meal in Children Article: HS in hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer: A phase Article: Management of Poststroke Hyperglycemia: Results of the TEXAIS Randomized Clinical Trial.

Hyperglycemia -- see more articles. Find an Expert. Ketones accumulate in the blood and eventually spill into the urine. If it isn't treated, diabetic ketoacidosis can lead to a diabetic coma that can be life-threatening.

Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state. This condition occurs when the body makes insulin, but the insulin doesn't work properly. If you develop this condition, your body can't use either glucose or fat for energy.

Glucose then goes into the urine, causing increased urination. If it isn't treated, diabetic hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state can lead to life-threatening dehydration and coma. It's very important to get medical care for it right away. On this page. When to see a doctor.

Risk factors. A Book: The Essential Diabetes Book. Early signs and symptoms Recognizing early symptoms of hyperglycemia can help identify and treat it right away. Watch for: Frequent urination Increased thirst Blurred vision Feeling weak or unusually tired.

Later signs and symptoms If hyperglycemia isn't treated, it can cause toxic acids, called ketones, to build up in the blood and urine. Symptoms include: Fruity-smelling breath Dry mouth Abdominal pain Nausea and vomiting Shortness of breath Confusion Loss of consciousness.

Request an appointment. From Mayo Clinic to your inbox. Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health.

Click here for an email preview. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information.

If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

Many factors can contribute to hyperglycemia, including: Not using enough insulin or other diabetes medication Not injecting insulin properly or using expired insulin Not following your diabetes eating plan Being inactive Having an illness or infection Using certain medications, such as steroids or immunosuppressants Being injured or having surgery Experiencing emotional stress, such as family problems or workplace issues Illness or stress can trigger hyperglycemia.

Long-term complications Keeping blood sugar in a healthy range can help prevent many diabetes-related complications. Long-term complications of hyperglycemia that isn't treated include: Cardiovascular disease Nerve damage neuropathy Kidney damage diabetic nephropathy or kidney failure Damage to the blood vessels of the retina diabetic retinopathy that could lead to blindness Feet problems caused by damaged nerves or poor blood flow that can lead to serious skin infections, ulcerations and, in some severe cases, amputation Bone and joint problems Teeth and gum infections.

Emergency complications If blood sugar rises very high or if high blood sugar levels are not treated, it can lead to two serious conditions. To help keep your blood sugar within a healthy range: Follow your diabetes meal plan. If you take insulin or oral diabetes medication, be consistent about the amount and timing of your meals and snacks.

The food you eat must be in balance with the insulin working in your body. Monitor your blood sugar. Depending on your treatment plan, you may check and record your blood sugar level several times a week or several times a day.

Careful monitoring is the only way to make sure that your blood sugar level stays within your target range. Note when your glucose readings are above or below your target range. Carefully follow your health care provider's directions for how to take your medication. Adjust your medication if you change your physical activity.

The adjustment depends on blood sugar test results and on the type and length of the activity. If you have questions about this, talk to your health care provider. By Mayo Clinic Staff. Aug 20, Show References. Hyperglycemia high blood glucose.

American Diabetes Association. Accessed July 6, What is diabetes? National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.