Hyperglycemia can refer to any  time a blood test shows you have  high blood glucose or an acute case of very high blood glucose.

Hyperglycemia is a term used to describe high blood sugar. But wait a minute! Isn't that the basic problem of diabetes -- that you have too much sugar in your blood?

Yes, but the story is a bit more complex. Technically speaking, a doctor could say you have hyperglycemia if a blood test shows that your glucose is higher than it should be (usually defined as more than 100 mg/dL between meals and 140 mg/dL or higher after eating). It's no big deal if your glucose creeps up a little now and then, but chronically elevated blood sugar can be debilitating and potentially fatal. If you don't take the necessary steps to control your diabetes, you will probably at minimum develop one or more complications.

The term hyperglycemia can also refer to an acute case of very high blood sugar, which you definitely want to avoid, too. Hyperglycemia can lead to two serious conditions. One occurs primarily (though not exclusively) in people with type 1 diabetes, while the other is mostly a concern for type 2 patients. Learn more about these conditions:

Diabetic Ketoacidosis
Ketones, the product when your body burns fat instead of glucose, are normally harmless. But when you're low on insulin -- the cause of hyperglycemia -- they build up in the blood, leading to problems. Learn more about diabetic ketoacidosis.

Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Syndrome
It's possible to develop hyperglycemia if you don't drink enough water. Learn how and why hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome occurs.

For more information on diabetes in general, try the following links:

• To learn more about diabetes in general, including diagnosis, causes, symptoms, and treatment, visit our main Diabetes page.
• Our main Type 1 Diabetes page will tell you more about this form of diabetes, commonly called, "juvenile diabetes."
  
• To find out more about type 2 diabetes, which has reached the level of national health epidemic, go to our main Type 2 Diabetes page.

Suggestions for a Diabetic DietOne of the most important aspects of treating and controlling diabetes is monitoring the food you take into your body. However, there may be more wiggle room than you think. To learn more about proper nutrition and diabetes, try the following links: Our main Diabetic Diet page will show you which food groups are diabetes-friendly and which ones you should avoid.   Visit our Diabetic Recipes page to find simple, delicious meals you can make that won't send our blood sugar into a tailspin.

This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.