Type 2 diabetes with hyperglycemia occurs when a person’s blood sugar elevates to potentially dangerous levels that require medical treatment.
A person living with type 2 diabetes can experience either hyperglycemia, which means an elevated blood glucose level, or hypoglycemia, which refers to a low level. Several factors, such as an illness, can cause these fluctuations to occur, even in people with otherwise well-controlled type 2 diabetes.
Untreated hyperglycemia can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, although this is more common among people with type 1 diabetes.
The following article discusses hyperglycemia in more detail, including the possible complications and what to do if it occurs.
Type 2 diabetes with hyperglycemia occurs when a person living with type 2 diabetes has high blood sugar levels.
It typically happens when a person living with type 2 diabetes is unable to manage their blood sugar levels effectively. In some cases, it could mean that a person needs to make changes to their medication, diet, or exercise routine.
If high blood sugar levels do not go back down, they can cause ketoacidosis, which is a potentially life threatening condition that requires treatment.
Learn more about the link between hyperglycemia and type 2 diabetes here.
Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90–95% of all cases of diabetes in the United States. Unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes typically occurs later in life.
A person living with type 2 diabetes has developed what is known as insulin resistance. When this occurs, the body does not respond properly to insulin. This insufficient response causes a buildup of insulin as the pancreas — which produces this hormone — tries to keep up with demand.
Eventually, the pancreas can no longer keep up, which causes a person’s blood sugar levels to rise and puts them at risk of developing prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.
Learn about the differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes here.
The most immediate danger of hyperglycemia is a condition known as ketoacidosis or diabetic coma. Ketoacidosis is a life threatening condition that occurs due to a buildup of ketones.
When the body does not have enough insulin to process sugar in the blood, it starts to break down fat for fuel. As it does so, it creates an excess of ketones, which are a byproduct of the process.
The body can naturally remove ketones through the urine, but during a blood sugar spike, it cannot remove them fast enough, resulting in an unsafe accumulation.
The symptoms of ketoacidosis include:
Learn more about type 2 diabetes and ketoacidosis here.
In addition, over time, frequent spikes in blood sugar can lead to several serious health complications. These include:
Learn more about the symptoms and complications of diabetes here.
Signs and symptoms indicating that blood sugar levels have spiked in a person living with type 2 diabetes include:
Without treatment, diabetic ketoacidosis can lead to additional symptoms, such as:
Learn more about how hyperglycemia can feel.
A person with type 2 diabetes should go for regular blood tests and keep all healthcare appointments to help prevent spikes in blood sugar. In between visits, a person should let a doctor know if they have several high blood sugar readings.
When a person living with type 2 diabetes is sick or has a blood sugar reading of 240 milligrams per deciliter or higher, the CDC recommends getting a home ketone test kit and testing every 4–6 hours.
A person should seek emergency medical treatment if their ketone levels are high or they show signs of ketoacidosis, which include:
A person can take various steps to lower their blood sugar if they have hyperglycemia.
According to researchers, the approach to treating people with severe hyperglycemia can vary based on a person’s hydration level. If the individual is adequately hydrated, the first line of treatment should be injecting insulin.
However, if the person is dehydrated, the recommendation is to hydrate the person first and then use insulin.
Learn more about dehydration here.
For an immediate reduction in blood sugar levels, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) suggests exercising for those who are comfortable doing so. However, the ADA does warn that a person should check their urine for ketones first, which it is possible to do using at-home tests.
If the urine contains ketones, it may be dangerous to exercise to lower blood sugar levels. In such cases, a person should check with a doctor whether they can exercise safely with high blood sugar.
Learn about testing urine ketones, including home tests, here.
A person with ketoacidosis should receive emergency treatment in a hospital.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that the treatment for ketoacidosis typically involves four stages:
In many cases, a person can help prevent blood sugar spikes by following their treatment plan. Although these plans differ among individuals, a doctor may recommend that people treat type 2 diabetes and help prevent blood sugar spikes by:
Certain events and factors can cause or trigger blood sugar spikes or ketoacidosis. They include:
With treatment, a person can generally fully recover from elevated blood glucose levels. Anyone who experiences any symptoms of high blood sugar should not hesitate to contact a doctor.
After treatment, a person should talk with the doctor about adjusting their treatment plan if necessary. They should also go back to taking their medications regularly, as well as following their diet and exercise plans.
A person living with type 2 diabetes can develop hyperglycemia, which is a spike in blood sugar levels. A person may be able to avoid this with proper treatment and management. In more severe cases, a person may develop ketoacidosis.
If ketoacidosis occurs, a person should seek emergency care as soon as possible. After treatment, a person will often recover fully.
Last medically reviewed on November 24, 2021
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19/10/2022