When is sugar too high

Overview A diabetic coma is a life-threatening diabetes complication that causes unconsciousness. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Continuous glucose monitor Open pop-up dialog box Close. Continuous glucose monitor A continuous glucose monitor CGM is a device that measures your blood sugar every few minutes using a sensor inserted under the skin.

Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes — Diabetes Care. Service FJ. Hypoglycemia in adults: Clinical manifestations, definition, and causes. Accessed June 19, Tips for emergency preparedness. American Diabetes Association. National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse.

Disadvantages of using an insulin pump. Continuous glucose monitoring. Managing Diabetes. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Diseases. Cryer PE. Management of hypoglycemia during treatment of diabetes mellitus. Hirsch IB. Diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state in adults: Clinical features, evaluation, and diagnosis.

McCulloch DK. Clinical presentation and diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in adults. A person with diabetes must monitor the carbohydrate and sugar in their diet. Apples contain carbs and sugar, but they also provide fiber, making them…. Diet is important for managing diabetes. Eating the wrong foods can trigger an imbalance in blood sugar. Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to heart or…. Maltodextrin is a powder that manufacturers add to many foods to improve their texture, taste, or shelf-life.

The FDA consider it safe, but it can…. It can be hard to tell the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Learn about how to recognize diabetes and its effects in children and…. How does high blood sugar hyperglycemia feel? Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph. Symptoms Causes Healthy blood sugar Low blood sugar When to see a doctor We include products we think are useful for our readers. Share on Pinterest High blood sugar can cause headache and fatigue.

Share on Pinterest Gestational diabetes can occur during pregnancy. Healthy blood sugar. Share on Pinterest Regular blood sugar testing can help people with diabetes keep their blood sugar levels within the target level. Preventing high blood sugar. Share on Pinterest Monitoring your diet and exercise alongside blood sugar levels can help you maintain a healthy blood sugar level. Low blood sugar hypoglycemia. When to see a doctor.

Diabetes Type 1 Type 2. Latest news Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Costs associated with obesity may account for 3. Medical Myths: All about lung cancer. Related Coverage. What are the differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes? Medically reviewed by Michelle L. Griffith, MD. Are apples good for diabetes?

Medically reviewed by Natalie Olsen, R. Quick and healthful recipes and meal plans for a diabetic diet. What is maltodextrin and is it safe? Medically reviewed by Natalie Butler, R. How does diabetes affect children and teenagers? Hyperglycaemia is the medical term for a high blood sugar glucose level. It's a common problem for people with diabetes. It can affect people with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes , as well as pregnant women with gestational diabetes.

It can occasionally affect people who do not have diabetes, but usually only people who are seriously ill, such as those who have recently had a stroke or heart attack , or have a severe infection. Hyperglycaemia should not be confused with hypoglycaemia , which is when a person's blood sugar level drops too low.

The aim of diabetes treatment is to keep blood sugar levels as near to normal as possible. But if you have diabetes, no matter how careful you are, you're likely to experience hyperglycaemia at some point. It's important to be able to recognise and treat hyperglycaemia, as it can lead to serious health problems if left untreated. Occasional mild episodes are not usually a cause for concern and can be treated quite easily or may return to normal on their own.

But hyperglycaemia can be potentially dangerous if blood sugar levels become very high or stay high for long periods. Very high blood sugar levels can cause life-threatening complications, such as:. Regularly having high blood sugar levels for long periods of time over months or years can result in permanent damage to parts of the body such as the eyes, nerves, kidneys and blood vessels. If you experience hyperglycaemia regularly, speak to your doctor or diabetes care team.

You may need to change your treatment or lifestyle to keep your blood sugar levels within a healthy range. Symptoms of hyperglycaemia in people with diabetes tend to develop slowly over a few days or weeks. In some cases, there may be no symptoms until the blood sugar level is very high. Symptoms of hyperglycaemia can also be caused by undiagnosed diabetes, so see a GP if this applies to you.