Elevated Blood Sugar

Hyperglycemia means that you have an elevated blood sugar level. Your blood glucose (sugar) level is higher than your target range. In Canada, the blood sugar level of 10 mmol/L or greater is considered hyperglycemia whereas in the US, a reading of 180 mg/dL or greater is considered hyperglycemia.

When your blood sugar is elevated, oftentimes, the sugar shows up in your urine. Checking for sugar in your urine will give you an indication that your blood sugar is high but it will not give you an accurate indication as to how high your actual blood sugar level is. It is better to check your blood sugar using a glucose monitor than to check to see if there is sugar in your urine.

These are the signs and symptoms of high blood sugar. You may have none of these symptoms, you may have some of them or you may have all of them. Generally, the higher your blood sugar levels are, the more symptoms you may have.

- Dry mouth
- Drowsiness
- Extreme thirst
- Blurred vision
- Extreme tiredness and paleness
- Increased appetite, hungry
- Rapid breathing
- Dry skin
- Feeling sick to your stomach
- Frequent urge to urinate - going to the bathroom a lot

High blood sugar can result when food, activity and medications are not balanced. High blood sugar may happen when you:

- Are eating too much food or eating the wrong types of food
- Are not exercising enough
- Are not taking enough medication (or not taking it as instructed)
- Are under stress
- Have an infection
- Have an illness

- Test your blood sugar regularly, regardless of your symptoms
- Adjust your activities based on your blood glucose results
- Decrease stress in your life
- Take care of any infection or illness quickly
- Talk to your healthcare professional about adjusting your insulin or medication if your blood sugar level remains high

- Exercise to lower your blood sugar level
- Work on your meal plan with your dietician
- Talk to your doctor about adjusting your medication regimen

Please note: If you have type 1 diabetes and your blood sugar equals or is greater than 14 mmol/L (252 mg/dL), avoid exercising if there are ketones present in your blood or urine.

If you feel very ill:
- Consult your doctor or healthcare professional immediately
- Have a family member or friend take you to a hospital if necessary