Hyperglycemia—Diabetes

Also called: DM, Diabetes mellitus

Diabetes is a disease in which your blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels are too high. Glucose comes from the foods you eat. Insulin is a hormone that helps the glucose get into your cells to give them energy. With type 1 diabetes, your body does not make insulin. With type 2 diabetes, the more common type, your body does not make or use insulin well. Without enough insulin, the glucose stays in your blood. You can also have prediabetes. This means that your blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes. Having prediabetes puts you at a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes.

Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can cause serious problems. It can damage your eyes, kidneys, and nerves. Diabetes can also cause heart disease, stroke and even the need to remove a limb. Pregnant women can also get diabetes, called gestational diabetes.

Blood tests can show if you have diabetes. One type of test, the A1C, can also check on how you are managing your diabetes. Exercise, weight control and sticking to your meal plan can help control your diabetes. You should also monitor your blood glucose level and take medicine if prescribed.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

A1C test (Medical Encyclopedia)
Blood sugar test – blood (Medical Encyclopedia)
Choose More than 50 Ways to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes – NIH – Easy-to-Read (National Diabetes Education Program)
Diabetes (Medical Encyclopedia)
Diabetes – keeping active (Medical Encyclopedia)
Diabetes – low blood sugar – self-care (Medical Encyclopedia)
Diabetes – tests and checkups (Medical Encyclopedia)
Diabetes – when you are sick (Medical Encyclopedia)
Diabetes and exercise (Medical Encyclopedia)
Giving an insulin injection (Medical Encyclopedia)
High blood sugar (Medical Encyclopedia)

Also called: High blood glucose, High blood sugar

Hyperglycemia means high blood sugar or glucose. Glucose comes from the foods you eat. Insulin is a hormone that moves glucose into your cells to give them energy. Hyperglycemia happens when your body doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use it the right way.

People with diabetes can get hyperglycemia from not eating the right foods or not taking medicines correctly. Other problems that can raise blood sugar include infections, certain medicines, hormone imbalances, or severe illnesses.