Diabetes awareness week: Understanding hyperglycaemia

Hyperglycaemia develops when there is too much sugar in the blood. Hyperglycaemia occurs in diabetes may be caused by:
Skipping or forgetting to take insulin
Eating too many grams of carbohydrate for the amount of insulin administered
Infection
Illness
Increased stress
Decreased activity or exercising less than usual.

It is important to know the early signs of hyperglycaemia, if it is left untreated it may develop into diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).

Early signs of hyperglycaemia include:
increased thirst
Headaches
Difficulty concentrating
Blurred vision
Frequent urination
Fatigue
Blood glucose level of more than 10 mmol/l

There are things that can be done to bring the blood glucose levels down. These are:
Drink more water: Water helps remove the excess glucose from the urine and helps avoid dehydration.
Exercise more: this will help lower the levels, although if the glucose level is over 15mmol/l you MUST check the urine for ketones. When you have ketones you MUST NOT exercise.

Hyperglycaemia can be prevented by being aware of your diet, count the carbohydrates that you are eating. Test your blood glucose levels regularly. If high levels persist contact your medical team.