Hyperglycaemia means high blood sugar level. This can develop over many hours or days. It is possible for your blood sugar level to be high and not be aware of it.

If symptoms are present, they may include:

• feeling constantly thirsty
• passing large volumes of urine, frequently
• feeling tired
• blurred vision
• infections e.g. thrush
• weight loss

Sickness

Infection

Stress

Too much carbohydrate food at once

Not enough insulin or diabetes tablets

Other tablets or medicines e.g. Cortisone

 

Type 2 Diabetes (Adult Onset Diabetes)

It is normal for blood sugar levels to go up and down from day to day. An occasional high blood sugar level is not a problem. If your blood sugar level remains high for a few days or if you are sick, contact your doctor.

See Sick Day Management

 

Type 1 Diabetes (Juvenile Diabetes)

Contact your doctor or diabetes nurse for advice about increasing your dose of short acting (clear) insulin. You may also need extra doses of this insulin e.g. 2-4 units every 2 hours.

Keep testing your blood sugar level frequently. Test your urine for ketones every time you pass urine.

Drink extra water or low calorie fluids to keep up with fluid lost by passing more urine.

 

Contact your doctor or go to hospital if:

• vomiting stops you from drinking and makes eating difficult
• blood sugar levels remains high
• moderate to large ketones are present in the urine

In type 1 diabetes, high blood sugar levels can progress to a serious condition called Ketoacidosis.

 

See Ketoacidosis

See Sick Day Management