What does having excess blood sugar consist of? Blood glucose concentration is the amount of glucose in the blood. Glucose is a sugar that comes from the food we eat, and it is also formed and stored within the body. It is the main source of energy for our body's cells, and it is transported to each and every one of those cells through the bloodstream. Hyperglycemia is the medical word used to refer to high concentrations of blood sugar. Hyperglycemia occurs when the body cannot make insulin (type 1 diabetes) or when it does not respond adequately to insulin (type 2 diabetes). The body needs insulin so that the glucose in the blood can enter the body's cells, which use it as an energy source. In people who have developed diabetes, glucose builds up in the blood, causing hyperglycemia. Having too much sugar in the blood for long periods of time can cause serious health problems if left untreated. Hyperglycemia can damage the blood vessels that carry blood to vital organs, which can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, vision problems, and neurological problems. These problems do not usually affect children or adolescents who have had diabetes for a few years. Blood sugar concentrations are considered high when they are above the reference ranges considered normal. The medical team that manages your diabetes will indicate what those margins are in your specific case. What are the causes of high blood sugar concentrations? Controlling diabetes is like triple juggling because you have to keep the following three things in mind: the medications you take (insulin and / or diabetes pills) the food you eat how much exercise do you do These three things must be well balanced. If any of them decomposes, the same can happen with your blood sugar concentration. Usually, an excess of blood sugar can be caused by: not taking your diabetes medications when you should or not taking them in the proper doses not following your diabetes eating plan correctly (such as overeating on a special occasion without adjusting the dosages of diabetes medications) not doing enough physical exercise have a disease like the flu stress taking other types of medications that affect the effects of diabetes medications. Having a high blood sugar pills concentration in isolation is usually not cause for alarm; It is something that happens from time to time to everyone who has diabetes. But, if you have a lot of hyperglycemia, explain it to your parents and the medical team that manages your diabetes. Your insulin doses or your meal plan may need to be changed, or you may have a problem with your medication delivery kit, such as an insulin pump that is not working well. In either case, be sure to ask for help normalizing your blood sugar concentration. What are the signs and symptoms of high blood sugar concentration? Signs of hyperglycemia include: Urinating a lot: the kidneys work by expelling the excess glucose through the urine. People with hyperglycemia need to pee more often and in larger amounts. Drinking a lot: Because a lot of fluid is being lost through peeing, you are usually very thirsty. Losing weight despite not having lost your appetite: If there is not enough insulin to help the body use glucose, it will have to break down muscle and stored fat in an attempt to fuel the hungry cells. Being depleted: Since the body cannot properly use glucose as an energy source, the person may feel unusually tired. How is hyperglycemia treated? To treat hyperglycemia, you first need to know what caused it. The medical team that manages your diabetes will give you specific recommendations to keep blood sugar levels within healthy ranges. But there are ways to manage the main causes of hyperglycemia: What is diabetic ketoacidosis? When the body does not have enough insulin, glucose remains in the blood and cannot enter the cells for use as an energy source. This can happen, for example, when a person skips a dose of insulin or when their insulin needs suddenly increase (such as when they are sick with the flu) and the doses have not been readjusted as appropriate. When the body cannot use glucose for fuel, it begins to use fat. When this happens, chemicals called ketones or ketones are released into the blood. Some of these ketone bodies, like excess glucose, are excreted through the urine. A high concentration of ketone bodies in blood can be problematic because it causes the blood to become acidic. An excessive amount of acid in the blood upsets the chemical balance of the body and causes the symptoms listed below. In people with diabetes, this problem is called diabetic ketoacidosis., Abbreviated as CAD. Diabetic ketoacidosis is a very serious condition that, if left untreated, can lead to coma or even death. The good news is that it can be prevented and can be treated. Diabetic ketoacidosis occurs more often in people with type 1 diabetes, but can sometimes occur in people with type 2 diabetes. What are the signs and symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis? The symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis do not usually occur all at once; they generally appear slowly over the course of several hours. People with diabetic ketoacidosis can: be exhausted be very thirsty or urinate much more than usual having a dry mouth or showing signs of dehydration These symptoms are caused by having an excessive concentration of blood sugar, something that usually happens before a person develops diabetic ketoacidosis. If the person does not receive treatment, they may have the following signs of diabetic ketoacidosis: abdominal pain nausea and / or vomiting fruity smelling breath fast deep breathing confusion loss of consciousness ("diabetic coma"). Check for diabetic ketoacidosis How can you tell if you have diabetic ketoacidosis? Since the symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis resemble those of the flu, it is important that you measure your blood sugar and ketone levels in your urine (or blood) when you feel unwell or when you think you may have symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis. Since ketone bodies appear in urine (as well as blood), ketone body concentration can be measured at home by analyzing a sample of pee. If the urine test is negative, it usually means that the symptoms are not due to diabetic ketoacidosis. Follow your diabetes management plan on when to measure your ketone concentration and what you should do if you get a positive result. In some cases, your medical team may have to use special test strips to also measure your concentration of ketone bodies in blood. How is diabetic ketoacidosis treated? Diabetic ketoacidosis is very serious, but it can be treated if you go to the doctor or hospital right away. To be better, a person with diabetic ketoacidosis needs to receive insulin and fluids intravenously (VI), that is, through a tube that is inserted into a vein in the body. Inform your parents or someone on your medical team if you have any of the symptoms of ketoacidosis or if you feel unwell and do not know what to take to control your diabetes. Always wear a medical identification bracelet or necklace where you say you are diabetic. So if you are not feeling well, whoever helps you will know to ask for medical help. This medical ID may also contain your doctor's or a parent's phone number. Avoid hyperglycemia and diabetic ketoacidosis However well cared for, people with diabetes will sometimes have high blood sugar levels. But the best way to avoid problems is to keep your blood sugar levels as close to normal values as possible, which means following your diabetes management plan to the letter. By measuring your blood sugar concentration several times a day, you can tell when it is too high. Hyperglycemia does not always cause symptoms, and a diabetic person who does not often measure their blood sugar concentration may be having sugar concentrations high enough to harm their body even without realizing it. Doctors can use the glycated hemoglobin test (abbreviated as HbA1c) to find out if a person has been having high blood sugar concentrations for a while, even if they have not had clear symptoms of hyperglycemia.
