What happens to a diabetic when their sugar is high

Hyperglycemia is the technical term for high blood glucose (blood sugar). High blood glucose happens when the body has too little insulin or when the body can't use insulin properly.

What causes hyperglycemia?

A number of things can cause hyperglycemia:

  • If you have type 1, you may not have given yourself enough insulin.
  • If you have type 2, your body may have enough insulin, but it is not as effective as it should be.
  • You ate more than planned or exercised less than planned.
  • You have stress from an illness, such as a cold or flu.
  • You have other stress, such as family conflicts or school or dating problems.
  • You may have experienced the dawn phenomenon (a surge of hormones that the body produces daily around 4:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.).

What are the symptoms of hyperglycemia?

The signs and symptoms include the following:

  • High blood glucose
  • High levels of glucose in the urine
  • Frequent urination
  • Increased thirst

Part of managing your diabetes is checking your blood glucose often. Ask your doctor how often you should check and what your glucose sugar levels should be. Checking your blood and then treating high blood glucose early will help you avoid problems associated with hyperglycemia.

How do I treat hyperglycemia?

You can often lower your blood glucose level by exercising. However, if your blood glucose is above 240 mg/dl, check your urine for ketones. If you have ketones, do not exercise.

Exercising when ketones are present may make your blood glucose level go even higher. You'll need to work with your doctor to find the safest way for you to lower your blood glucose level.

Cutting down on the amount of food you eat might also help. Work with your dietitian to make changes in your meal plan. If exercise and changes in your diet don't work, your doctor may change the amount of your medication or insulin or possibly the timing of when you take it.

What if it goes untreated?

Hyperglycemia can be a serious problem if you don't treat it, so it's important to treat as soon as you detect it. If you fail to treat hyperglycemia, a condition called ketoacidosis (diabetic coma) could occur. Ketoacidosis develops when your body doesn't have enough insulin. Without insulin, your body can't use glucose for fuel, so your body breaks down fats to use for energy.

When your body breaks down fats, waste products called ketones are produced. Your body cannot tolerate large amounts of ketones and will try to get rid of them through the urine. Unfortunately, the body cannot release all the ketones and they build up in your blood, which can lead to ketoacidosis.

Ketoacidosis is life-threatening and needs immediate treatment. Symptoms include:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Breath that smells fruity
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Very dry mouth

Talk to your doctor about how to handle this condition.

Medical IDs

Many people with diabetes, particularly those who use insulin, should have a medical ID with them at all times.

In the event of a severe hypoglycemic episode, a car accident, or other emergency, the medical ID can provide critical information about the person's health status, such as the fact that they have diabetes, whether or not they use insulin, whether they have any allergies, etc. Emergency medical personnel are trained to look for a medical ID when they are caring for someone who can't speak for themselves.

Medical IDs are usually worn as a bracelet or a necklace. Traditional IDs are etched with basic, key health information about the person, and some IDs now include compact USB drives that can carry a person's full medical record for use in an emergency.

How can I prevent hyperglycemia?

Your best bet is to practice good diabetes management and learn to detect hyperglycemia so you can treat it early—before it gets worse.

If you're new to type 2 diabetes, join our free Living With Type 2 Diabetes program to get help and support during your first year.

Frequent urination, fatigue, and blurry vision are just some of the symptoms of uncontrolled type 2 diabetes.

What happens to a diabetic when their sugar is high

Reviewed: August 22, 2019

Does Not Having Symptoms Mean Diabetes Is Being Managed Well?

What happens to a diabetic when their sugar is high

Being Extra Thirsty and Having to Urinate More Than Usual

What happens to a diabetic when their sugar is high

This is a common but not-so-obvious sign of blood sugar that is too high: feeling really thirsty and needing to drink more than usual. “Excessive urination, known as polyuria, occurs when glucose builds up in your blood, and your kidneys begin working harder to get rid of the extra glucose,” says Zanini. If your kidneys can’t keep up and adjust blood sugar so that it returns to a normal level, the excess sugar is flushed out of your body through urine, she adds. You may become dehydrated and get dizzy.

RELATED: Can Chronic Dehydration Lead to Type 2 Diabetes?

You’re Hungrier Than Usual but Losing Weight

What happens to a diabetic when their sugar is high

Many people with uncontrolled high blood sugar find that they’re hungrier than usual, which signals a symptom called polyphagia, MedlinePlus notes. And although you’re eating more, you may be losing weight for no apparent reason if your blood sugar levels are too high, according to the Mayo Clinic.

“Since your body is not getting energy from the preferred source, glucose, it has to turn to muscle and fat,” Zanini explains. “When your body starts breaking down muscle and fat for energy, you experience unintentional and unhealthy weight loss.” In addition to these changes in weight and appetite, you may notice weakness in your muscles and experience more frequent falls, Emanuele adds.

You Feel Tiredness and Fatigue Constantly

What happens to a diabetic when their sugar is high

You Have Noticeably Blurry Vision and Frequent Headaches

What happens to a diabetic when their sugar is high

You may notice that your vision isn’t as clear as it used to be and that things may appear a bit blurry. High blood sugar levels can lead to swollen lenses in your eye from fluid leaking in, according to the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston. This changes the shape of the lens, which makes it unable to properly focus, causing blurred vision. You may also find yourself struggling at work, having difficulty driving, and suffering from frequent headaches, Emanuele notes.

RELATED: How Diabetes Can Damage Your Eyes

You Develop Sores That Tend to Heal More Slowly Than Usual

What happens to a diabetic when their sugar is high

You Notice Tingling and Numbness in Your Hands or Feet

What happens to a diabetic when their sugar is high

You’re Developing Blisters, Dryness, or Other Skin Changes

What happens to a diabetic when their sugar is high

Small pieces of extra skin, called skin tags, may form in the creases of skin, especially if you have diabetes and you’re trying to find ways to manage your weight, notes the ADA. Dark, thick areas of soft skin (called acanthosis nigricans) may form on the back of the neck or hands, armpits, face, or other areas. These can be a sign of insulin resistance, Zanini says. Blisters, infections, dryness, itchiness, discolorations, and abnormalities of the skin can all be warning signs of high blood sugar. Check with your doctor if these skin changes develop.

RELATED: 8 Ways to Maintain Healthy Skin With Type 2 Diabetes

You’re Getting Yeast Infections More Often Than Usual

What happens to a diabetic when their sugar is high

Hyperglycemia may lead you to get more frequent genital yeast infections. The culprit is often a type of yeast (a fungus) known as Candida albicans, per the ADA. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in females the symptoms can include: vaginal itching, redness or soreness; pain during sexual intercourse; pain or discomfort during urination; and thick, abnormal vaginal discharge. While yeast infections are common in people who don’t have diabetes, having more glucose in your blood puts you at higher risk of getting them. “The yeast feeds off the glucose, and if your blood sugar is high there’s more glucose in the urinary tract,” explains Bandukwala. Uncircumcised men with hyperglycemia are also at risk, he says.

“We’re also seeing this happen a little more now with patients who take SGLT-2 inhibitors, which force the body to expel more glucose through the urine,” the endocrinologist adds. The FDA has added a warning to the prescribing information for SGLT-2 inhibitors about a far more rare — and potentially fatal — genital condition, known as necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum, or Fournier’s gangrene (commonly known as a flesh-eating disease).

RELATED: What Are the Pros and Cons of SGLT2 Inhibitors for Type 2 Diabetes?

Swollen or Bleeding Gums, Which Increase Your Infection Risk

What happens to a diabetic when their sugar is high

Gum disease is a complication of diabetes, notes the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease. It can also make diabetes harder to control, because the body’s response to infection is to release more glucose into the bloodstream, according to the ADA.

Your saliva contains glucose; and the more it contains, the more there is to feed the bacteria that combine with food in your mouth to form plaque and cause gum disease. Symptoms can include red or inflamed gums at first. If they are unaddressed, they can progress to periodontitis, which can cause your gums to pull away from your teeth, the appearance of pus or ulcers, or even tooth loss, notes the Mayo Clinic. Get your blood sugar under control and see a dental professional to prevent damage to your gums and teeth.

Additional reporting by Diana Rodriguez and Andrea Peirce.

How do diabetics act when their sugar is high?

Hyperglycemia (high blood glucose) means there is too much sugar in the blood because the body lacks enough insulin. Associated with diabetes, hyperglycemia can cause vomiting, excessive hunger and thirst, rapid heartbeat, vision problems and other symptoms.

What happens your blood sugar is too high?

Having too much sugar in the blood for long periods of time can cause serious health problems if it's not treated. Hyperglycemia can damage the vessels that supply blood to vital organs, which can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, kidney disease, vision problems, and nerve problems.