Causes of High Glucose

Contrary to what many imagine, high glucose goes much more than excessive consumption of sweets. In a world where chronic diseases are increasingly common, it is important to know the causes of high glucose, where several factors can play this role.

In this article we will explore the causes behind this growing problem and how it can directly affect our health. It is worth checking!

What is hyperglycemia

Hyperglycemia is a condition whose main characteristic is an increase in blood glucose levels, above normal values. This usually happens when the body is unable to adequately regulate glucose levels, which normally occurs in patients with diabetes.

Types of diabetes and pre-diabetes

Type 1 diabetes

This type of diabetes is generally diagnosed at an early age and usually occurs in only 5 to 10% of cases. It is an autoimmune condition, where the body is unable to produce the hormone insulin, which is responsible for regulating blood glucose levels.

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the disease, whose main characteristic is that the body does not adequately use the insulin it produces. Unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 can be prevented with lifestyle changes such as exercise and healthy eating.

Gestational diabetes

This type of diabetes can affect some women during pregnancy, when the body does not produce enough insulin to meet the needs of the fetus. Early diagnosis is vitally important to avoid complications due to this condition.

Pre-diabetes

It is a condition in which blood glucose levels are high, but have not yet reached the threshold to be classified as type 2 diabetes.

Symptoms and causes of high glucose

Before knowing the causes of high glucose, it is important to know what the symptoms are and pay close attention to the appearance of one or more of them:

Symptoms

1. Tiredness;
2. Frequent urination;
3. Excessive thirst;
4. Constant hunger;
5. Blurry vision;
6. Tingling in the legs;
7. Numbness;
8. Pain;
9. Mental confusion (in more serious cases).

Causes of high glucose

Check out some of the main causes of high glucose below, remembering that they can vary from one person to another:

• Diabetes;
• Poor monitoring of
• diabetes;
• Physical or emotional stress;
• Infections;
• Use of certain medications;
• Sedentary lifestyle;
• Bad eating habits;
• Pre-existing health problems.

Risks of hyperglycemia

If hyperglycemia is not treated properly, it can cause serious health problems, especially in diabetics. Below, find out the main risks:

• Recurrent infections: High glucose can end up weakening the immune system, making patients more susceptible to infections of different types.
• Cardiovascular diseases: If hyperglycemia is not controlled, the risk of suffering from hypertension, atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease increases.
• Eye problems: Diabetic retinopathy can cause vision loss if not treated properly.
• Kidney problems: Lack of treatment can damage the kidneys in the long term, leading to kidney problems.
• Foot problems: Poor blood circulation and diabetic neuropathy can increase the risk of foot wounds that fail to heal properly.
• Diabetic ketoacidosis: In more severe cases, especially in patients with type 1 diabetes, this potentially fatal condition may appear, which is characterized by the accumulation of ketones in the blood, leading to metabolic acidosis.

As you can see, it is vitally important to maintain adequate control and better management of diabetes. To achieve this, technology can become an excellent ally. Therefore, you can use applications to monitor blood glucose. Check out some of the best:

• mySugr;
• Blood Glucose Tracker;
• Glic;
• FreeStyle LibreLink.

Now that you know more about the causes of high glucose and the risks associated with it, it is clear that controlling blood glucose levels plays a fundamental role in maintaining health. Regardless of whether you have diabetes or not, being aware of the factors that can lead to high blood glucose is the first step to preventing complications.