A fasting blood sugar level below 70 mg/dL is hypoglycemia, while hyperglycemia is above 130 mg/dL, and both conditions, if present over time, can cause complications.
Changes in blood sugar levels, whether low or high, can cause symptoms and complications. Hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia are common in people with diabetes, but they can also occur in people without the disease.
Causes and risk factors
Hyperglycemia occurs when the body has too little insulin (a hormone that transports glucose into the blood) or cannot use insulin properly, as in type 2 diabetes. Causes of hyperglycemia in people with diabetes include not taking enough insulin or oral diabetes medications, not balancing the amount of carbohydrates eaten with the amount of insulin the body can produce, or the patient injecting it. In addition, a person's blood sugar level can increase due to being less active than usual, stress, taking steroids, or the dawn phenomenon (an increase in hormones that the body produces every day around 4-5 o'clock).
Other causes of hyperglycemia include Cushing's syndrome, which causes insulin resistance; diseases of the pancreas such as pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and cystic fibrosis; certain medications such as diuretics; gestational diabetes, surgery, or trauma.
Hypoglycemia occurs when there is too much insulin in the body, leading to low blood sugar. It is common in people with type 1 diabetes and can occur in people with type 2 diabetes who take insulin or certain medications.
Hypoglycemia in people with diabetes can be caused by overexertion, drinking alcohol without eating, eating late or skipping meals, unbalanced meals, not eating enough carbohydrates, and not timing insulin and carb intake correctly (waiting too long to eat a meal after taking insulin for a meal).
Measuring blood sugar by taking blood from the finger helps to detect changes in blood sugar levels. Photo: Freepik
Symptoms and complications
Symptoms of hyperglycemia include fatigue, vision changes, thirst, fruity breath, increased hunger, nausea, and vomiting. Although the symptoms of hyperglycemia may not be noticeable, they become more serious when blood sugar levels remain high for a long time. Hyperglycemia typically begins with fatigue, headaches, frequent urination, and increased thirst. Over time, symptoms can progress to nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and coma. Recognizing the symptoms of high blood sugar and treating it early is the way to avoid serious complications.
Symptoms of hypoglycemia also tend to start gradually and may not be recognized at first. If left untreated, symptoms tend to become more severe. People with hypoglycemia often experience shakiness, hunger, rapid heartbeat, sweating, irritability, inability to concentrate, and dizziness. If a person’s blood sugar levels become dangerously low (below 54 mg/dL), severe symptoms can occur. These symptoms can include confusion, behavior changes, slurred speech, clumsy movements, blurred vision, seizures, and loss of consciousness.
People with hyperglycemia can use rapid-acting insulin, regular exercise, weight loss, surgery, and moderate carbohydrate intake. People with hypoglycemia should use 15 g of carbohydrates, glucose tablets, medication, and dietary changes.
Complications of hyperglycemia can affect various organs of the body from the eyes to the nerves. In addition, persistently high blood sugar can lead to heart disease and peripheral artery disease. Severe hyperglycemia during pregnancy can be harmful to the mother and fetus. Low blood sugar can also lead to serious complications including seizures, loss of consciousness, and death. People with hypoglycemia may fall or have accidents due to shaking and dizziness.
Kim Uyen (According to Verywell Health)
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