# Hyperglycemia --- **Hyperglycemia** is a condition where one's [[blood glucose|blood sugar]] levels are higher than normal. It's usually defined as blood glucose as being over >180-200 mg/dL. In a healthy person, high blood sugar levels are [[homeostasis|corrected]] with the production of the hormone [[insulin]]. In patients with [[type 1 diabetes mellitus|type 1 diabetes]] (and some with type 2) who cannot make their own (or make enough of their own), they take exogenous [[insulin]] to bring their blood sugar down to a healthy range. ## Signs & Symptoms Acute hyperglycemia can manifest with some of the same symptoms as hypoglycemia, but not all of them. - extreme thirst - your body registers the blood is [[osmosis|hyperosmotic]] and triggers the thirst center - sugar in the urine - your kidneys have reached their [[tubular reabsorption#Tubular Reabsorption|transport maximum]] for glucose, and the rest is lost in the urine - need to urinate often (polyuria) - you're drinking more and also when you loose glucose in the kidneys water follows - dry skin - your skin is unable to get enough blood to maintain proper moisture. - blurry vision - hungry - your blood sugar may be high but the cells may not be getting it - drowsy - dehydration (w/ tachy) - rapid, deep respirations - your cells may be resorting to - altered mental status - stomach pain - dry mouth ## Chronic Hyperglycemia Chronic hyperglycemia is very detrimental to ones health, and can ultimately lead to developing [[type 2 diabetes mellitus|type 2 diabetes]]. A lot of the health problems that come from this condition stem from the fact that lots of glucose makes the blood thicker than normal, so it can damage the small vessels of the [[capillaries]] as it moves through them. This can cause poor [[oxygen saturation|perfusion]] in the tissues (especially in the lower limbs), which can lead to slow to heal [[wounds]] and lack of sensation especially in the extremities. [[diabetes mellitus#Complications|Diabetic retinopathy]] is when the capillaries in the retina are damaged. Diabetic [[kidneys|nephropathy]] is also caused by hyperglycemia as well as hypertension (a common comorbidity of diabetes.) ## Hyperglycemic Crises There are two types of hyperglycemic crises, differentiated on exactly how much insulin is able to be utilized by the body. Both of these are typically only seen in patients with [[diabetes mellitus]]. - [[diabetic ketoacidosis]] (DKA) is a hyperglycemic crisis where there is *no* insulin available to the system, forcing the body to burn fat for energy, flooding the system with acidic ketones. - [[hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome]] (HHS) is a hyperglycemic crisis where there still may be a small (yet insufficient) amount of insulin available, so we see a lack of ketones. ___