Hyperglycemia

High blood glucose can be caused by many things, including:

• Eating too much food
• Little or no physical activity
• Not taking medications
• Stress, infection or illness
• Bad or spoiled insulin

High blood glucose can cause serious problems and a major cause of long-term diabetes complications. Warning signs of high blood glucose include:

• Tiredness or fatigue
• Increased thirst
• Frequent urination
• Blurred vision
• Dry mouth or skin
• Slow-healing cuts and sores
• Unexplained weight loss

It is important to keep your blood glucose level within your target range. Checking your blood glucose often may help you avoid hyperglycemia. During illness your blood glucose levels can increase because of the hormones in the body that are helping you to get better. If you have type 1 diabetes you may need more insulin when you are sick, talk to your healthcare provider.