Hyperglycemia is when you have elevated blood glucose, which is over 200 mg/dL. When you were first diagnosed with diabetes, you probably had hyperglycemia—and in fact, your blood glucose level may have been much higher than 200 mg/dL. The goal of your diabetes treatment is to get your blood glucose back down to a safer level. The best way to prevent hyperglycemia is by managing your diabetes through healthy food choices, exercising, and taking your medications as prescribed by your health care provider. However, even after you are managing your diabetes, you are still at risk for high spikes or peaks. It can become a serious problem it you don’t treat it.

Hyperglycemia can be caused by several things:

• If you’re on insulin, you may have skipped a dose or not injected the proper amount. (Or, if hyperglycemia occurs repeatedly without this explanation, it can be a sign that your insulin regimen needs to be revised.)
• If you’re on medications, you may have skipped a dose or not taken the correct amount. (Or, if hyperglycemia occurs repeatedly without this explanation, it can be a sign that your medication regimen needs to be changed.)
• You may have eaten too much.
• You may be sick or have an infection.
• You may be experiencing stress or anger.

If you are experiencing hyperglycemia, you may find yourself experiencing some of the signs and symptoms of diabetes itself—such as frequent urination, increased thirst, and fatigue. On the other hand, you may often experience bouts of hyperglycemia without even realizing it. If your A1c results are high, for example, it can be a sign that you are often experiencing high blood glucose and need to focus more on your control.

Untreated hyperglycemia can develop into life-threatening conditions. Someone with Type 1 Diabetes could develop Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) and someone with Type 2 Diabetes, Hyperosmolar Syndrome (HS).

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