Michael BoveeDiabetes and hyperglycemia are serious medical conditions that affect millions of people every year in America.
Understanding the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options for each is critical to managing and preventing each condition. Learn all you can about diabetes and hyperglycemia in order to provide your diabetes management team with the information they need to provide a safe, effective, and timely treatment for you.
Diabetes and hyperglycemia are the most common form of hypoglycemia, which is the medical term for low blood glucose levels. Diabetes is a condition characterized by an irregular secretion of insulin into the bloodstream, which interferes with the body’s normal processes, leading to higher glucose levels in the bloodstream and increased risk for serious health complications. A high level of sugar in the blood leads to a number of symptoms, including feeling lightheaded, weakness, frequent urination, and extreme hunger.
Most people who develop diabetes do so because of too much insulin being administered to the body, which then causes the body to use up more sugar than it needs. This causes a dangerous chain reaction, causing damage to the heart muscle as well as kidneys and pancreas. If left unchecked, diabetes can lead to death within a short period of time.
Recognizing the symptoms of hyperglycemia or diabetes can be difficult, however. Symptoms of high sugar levels in the bloodstream include fatigue, nausea, dizziness, sweating, headaches, muscle aches, blurred vision, confusion, and excessive thirst. The symptoms of hypoglycemia include irritability, decreased appetite, dry mouth, fainting spells, blurred vision, and rapid heartbeat.
If you suspect that you may be experiencing diabetes or hyperglycemia, you should contact your doctor immediately.
These two conditions are often misdiagnosed as the same condition. It is important to recognize and know the symptoms so that your diabetes management team is able to correctly treat you for these illnesses. The earlier you start treating your condition, the less chance you have of complications developing life threatening conditions.
Diabetes and hyperglycemia can occur together in some cases but are usually treated separately. When a diabetic individual is suffering from high blood sugar, hypoglycemia symptoms can include feeling thirsty and hungry, urinating more frequently, feeling faint, or nauseous, vomiting, blurred vision, lightheadedness, and fainting spells, and dizziness. When a diabetic is experiencing hypoglycemia symptoms, they may experience vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, cramps, seizures, excessive thirst, weakness, numbness in the hands or feet, heart palpitations, nausea, diarrhea, increased thirst, and vomiting.
In addition to diabetes and hyperglycemia, kidney disease and hypoglycemia can occur together as well. Kidney failure can result in the loss of the kidneys, kidney failure can also lead to hypoglycemia, which can be potentially fatal. If you suspect your diabetes or hyperglycemia symptoms are similar to these other conditions, contact your doctor immediately.
When diabetes and hyperglycemia occur together, it is important to identify the treatment options available and make an appointment to visit your doctor or pharmacist. Learn about your specific diagnosis and discuss the treatment options that are available to control and reduce your risk for future complications. Identify your specific symptoms and seek immediate treatment.
A proper diet can help prevent the occurrence of both diabetes and hyperglycemia.
You should include foods that contain fiber and protein in your diet. Fruits and vegetables should be consumed in moderation.
It is also important to know the different types of glucose and insulin that is commonly used by a diabetic patient. There are various types of insulin that are available to manage the blood glucose level. The most common type of insulin is called Metformin which helps lower your risk for developing kidney disease.
In addition to diabetes and hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia is another type of condition that you should know about. Hypoglycemia occurs when your body produces too much insulin, resulting in low levels of glucose in the bloodstream. In some cases, hypoglycemia can be fatal. This condition can cause seizures and death if not treated quickly.
If you suspect that you are experiencing diabetes or hyperglycemia, it is important to get your blood sugar levels checked out as soon as possible. A doctor will be able to identify the cause of the condition and be able to provide you with the right treatment options. Once you have identified the cause of your condition, your doctor will be able to give you the appropriate treatment to minimize the likelihood of any complications or to help you manage the condition.