What Are High Blood Sugar Levels
High blood sugar is also known as hyperglycemia. The disease associated with hyperglycemia is called diabetes. It is important to test your blood sugar on a regular basis. If high blood sugar levels are found, then controlling your diet and taking prescribed medications are a must. You can develop serious complications if you have prolonged high blood sugar levels.
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Normal Blood Sugar Levels
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Blood sugar or blood glucose is your body's energy source. Fasting blood sugar levels should be between 80-120 milligrams/decileter (mg/dl) whereas blood sugar levels after you eat are higher. They should not be greater than 150 mg/dl.
Symptoms
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If you have higher than normal blood sugar levels, you may feel lousy. Sometimes you do not notice these bad feelings until your blood sugar is pretty high. Symptoms may include excessive thirst, excessive urination, excessive sweating, weight loss or fatigue.
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Reasons for High Blood Sugar Levels
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Your body does not make or release enough insulin to properly convert the glucose in your blood to energy for your body's cells, or your body's cells are resistant to insulin. The result of either of these problems is high blood sugar levels.
Getting Tested
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As part of your annual physical exam, your doctor should request a fasting or random blood sugar. If either is elevated, your doctor will order further tests.
Causes of Diabetes
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Diabetes can be hereditary. However it can also be a result of a poor diet and lack of exercise. In additional, certain medications can cause an increase in blood sugar levels. Also some woman may develop high blood sugar levels during pregnancy.
Gomplications
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There are many complications from having prolonged high blood sugar levels. The most common are heart disease, kidney disease, nerve disease, problems with your eyesight and sexual problems.
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