Hyperglycemia is also known as high blood sugar, and it is generally the result of chronically high blood sugar levels. If you have hypoglycemia, your blood sugar levels are low – typically below 70 mg/dL. If you are suffering from diabetes, it is common to have low or high blood sugar levels. Failing to control your blood sugar could lead to stroke, heart attack, and even death.

Causes of Hyperglycemia

When your body does not produce enough insulin, you could be suffering from high blood sugar levels. This condition will also occur when your body resists the insulin that it produces. Sugar needs to move through your body – and cells. The liver will continue to make sugar, and too much will lead to high blood sugar levels.

Some of the causes of hyperglycemia are:

• Emotional stress (family or job related)
• Failing to take prescribed medication
• Inadequate amounts of physical activity
• Insufficient diet
• Stress from medical illnesses

The result of high blood sugar levels could lead to long-term and life-threatening medical issues, such as:

• Blindness
• Nerve and Blood Vessel Damage
• Kidney Disease
• Gum Disease
• Heart Disease

You need to monitor your blood sugar levels to control hyperglycemia. Develop a diet and exercising schedule, and stick with it. Consult with your doctor to learn more about controlling high blood sugar levels.

Causes of Hypoglycemia

When you have not eaten enough, especially after exercising, your blood sugar levels will drop. This can be a common occurrence, but if the situation is ongoing, you will need to seek medical attention. Your blood sugar levels are too low for your body to produce energy, and the consequences can be life threatening. There is a variety of causes of hypoglycemia, which include:

• Alcohol use
• Metabolic problems
• Liver, kidney, or pancreas disease
• Surgical procedures, such as stomach surgery
• Reactions to medications

A doctor can test your blood sugar levels to determine the cause of hypoglycemia. Sometimes, other health problems could cause hypoglycemia.

Treatment for High and Low Blood Sugar Levels

Treatment is available for short-term hypoglycemia. The first thing you need to do is drink a sugary beverage or eat sugary foods. Fruit and fruit juices, dried fruit such as raisins, chocolate and hard candy are examples of sugary foods and beverages.

If you suffer from long-term hypoglycemia, your doctor could prescribe medication or give you health tips on how to treat the condition. Healthy lifestyle changes could help with low blood sugar levels. Keep a healthy diet and exercise moderately. Your doctor may also need to make changes to the types of medications you take if they are causing your blood sugar levels to drop.

Symptoms

According to the Virginia Mason Medical Center, blood sugar levels taken via random tests that range in the mid to low 100s are considered normal.

Symptoms for high blood sugar levels include:

• Weight Loss
• An Increased Appetite
• Excessive Urination
• Dry Mouth
• Increased Fatigue
• Dry Skin
• Drowsiness
• Weak Pulse
• Rapid and Deep Breathing
• Breath Odor (Strong or Fruity)
• Vomiting
• Fast Heart Rate

If your blood sugar level drops below 70 ml/dL, you could have low blood sugar levels. Some symptoms of low blood sugar include:

• Personality Changes
• Loss of Balance
• Irritability
• Blurred Vision
• Nervousness
• Weakness
• Slight Nausea
• Headaches and Dizziness
• Sweating – Near the Back of Your Hairline
• Loss of Consciousness
• Strokes
• Restlessness
• Nightmares

The symptoms of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia will vary from person-to-person.

Prevention

If you can control your high and low blood sugar levels, you could prevent diabetes. Controlling your blood sugar levels also helps stop the progression of diabetes, especially Type 2 diabetes. To learn more about Type 2 diabetes, click here.

References

“Symptoms of High Blood Sugar.” WebMD. Retrieved from http://diabetes.webmd.com/symptoms-of-high-blood-sugar. Accessed on September 3, 2013.

“High Blood Sugar Basics.” Blood Sugar Basics. Retrieved from http://bloodsugarbasics.com/high-blood-sugar-basics. Accessed on September 3, 2013.

“Topic Overview.” WebMD. Retrieved from http://diabetes.webmd.com/tc/hypoglycemia-low-blood-sugar-topic-overview. Accessed on September 3, 2013.

“Symptoms of Low Blood Sugar.” WebMD. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/symptoms-of-low-blood-sugar-topic-overview. Accessed on September 3, 2013.

“What Are Normal Blood Glucose Levels.” Virginia Mason Medical Center. Retrieved from https://www.virginiamason.org/WhatareNormalBloodGlucoseLevels. Accessed on September 6, 2013.