Signs and Symptoms of Hyperglycemia

An Overview of the Symptoms of Hyperglycemia

Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) is a condition that typically occurs when the amount of glucose in the blood is too high. Although hyperglycemia usually affects diabetics, it can also occur in people without diabetes or other underlying conditions.

Some of the main factors that can cause hyperglycemia in people with diabetes include illness, changes in physical activity and diet, not taking enough or skipping glucose-lowering drugs, or non-diabetes medication. Hyperglycemia needs immediate medical attention because if uncontrolled, it can easily lead to a wide range of life-threatening complications, including diabetes coma and complications affecting your kidneys, heart, nerves, and eyes.

There are two main kinds of hyperglycemia:

After-meal (Postprandial) hyperglycemia where the blood glucose is greater than 180 mg/dL two hours after eating.
Fasting hyperglycemia where the blood sugar is greater than 130 mg/dL after not drinking or eating for at least eight hours.

People living with type 1 diabetes are generally susceptible to ketoacidosis (a build-up of acids in the blood). Therefore, for people with type 1 diabetes and people who are at risk of it, hyperglycemia can lead to a deadly condition in which the body is unable to process glucose, known as HHNS (hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome). People with HHNS have darker pee and tend to urinate less often as they become more dehydrated.

Symptoms of hyperglycemia

Most people rarely notice any hyperglycemia symptoms until their blood sugar levels are significantly elevated – typically to levels above 180 mg/dL or 10 mmol/L. Hyperglycemia symptoms usually develop gradually over several days or even weeks and symptoms become worse the longer blood glucose levels stay high. However, it’s essential to keep in mind that some people who have type 2 diabetes for extended periods of time may not experience any symptoms despite having elevated blood glucose levels.

Early signs of hyperglycemia

It is essential to identify the early signs and symptoms of hyperglycemia in order to seek prompt medical attention. Some of the early signs and symptoms include:

Headache
Frequent urination
Fatigue
Increased thirst
Blurred vision

Later Signs of hyperglycemia

Trouble concentrating
Weight loss
Tingling or numbness in the feet
Blood glucose level higher than 180mg/dL

If untreated, hyperglycemia can lead to the buildup of ketones (toxic acids) in the urine and blood (ketoacidosis). Later signs and symptoms include:

Shortness of breath
Confusion
Dry mouth
Fruity-smelling breath
Abdominal pain
General weakness
Nausea and vomiting
Coma

Untreated hyperglycemia can cause other serious complications such as:

Impaired vision
Skin and vaginal infections
Slow-healing sores and cuts
Damage to the kidneys, blood vessels, and eyes
Intestinal problems including diarrhea and chronic constipation
Nerve damage leading to insensitive, cold, or painful feet, erectile dysfunction, or loss of hair.

Causes of Hyperglycemia

During digestion, our bodies break down carbs from food – such as pasta, rice, and bread – into sugar molecules such as glucose. Glucose is normally absorbed directly into the bloodstream after eating; however, it requires insulin’s assistance to be absorbed by cells in tissues.

When your blood glucose level is high, the pancreas is stimulated to release insulin which is essential for the optimum functioning of cells.

Extra glucose is usually stored in the muscles and liver as glycogen. Due to this process, the amount of glucose in the bloodstream is lowered hence preventing it from rising to dangerously high levels.

Conditions such as diabetes lower the effects of insulin on the body. Consequently, glucose builds up in the bloodstream and may reach high levels (hyperglycemia) if left untreated.

Risk factors

Some of the factors that can contribute to dangerously high blood sugar levels include:

Being inactive
Not using prescribed medication such as insulin
Having an infection or illness
Use of certain medications, including steroids
Using expired insulin
Having surgery or being injured
Emotional stress

Learn how to manage your diabetes HERE!

When should you see your doctor?

Seek medical assistance immediate medical attention if:
Your blood sugar levels are consistently above 13.3 mmol/L (240 mg/dL) and you have toxic acids (ketones) in your urine
You’re sick and are unable to keep any fluids or food down
You’re experiencing ongoing vomiting or diarrhea, but you are able to tolerate some drinks or foods
You have a persistent fever
You’re having trouble keeping your blood sugar levels within the recommended range

Maintaining your blood glucose levels within the recommended range plays a major role in preventing most diabetes-related complications such as kidney damage (diabetic neuropathy), cardiovascular disease, neuropathy (nerve damage), kidney failure, joint and bone problems, gum and teeth infections, and cataracts.

So what is considered high blood sugar?

The Bloodless Glucose Meter

If you are a diabetic and sick and tired of sore fingers and the pain associated with sticking your fingers every time you need to check your blood sugar, the ‘up and coming’ bloodless glucose meter may be just what you need! These sought after meters will very soon be available, in styles like the glucowatch, which is designed to be worn on the wrist.

How Does the Bloodless Glucose Meter Work?

These particular meters work by drawing interstitial fluid through the sweat glands in the skin by using a small electric current. This electric current is so small that the only real discomfort associated with using the device is some possible irritation caused by wearing the device around the wrist or arm, and this is usually no more uncomfortable than wearing a large watch or MP3 player. The bloodless glucose monitor lives up to its name in that it is completely pain-free for most users and represents the newest and best in glucose monitoring technology.

The meters of today are useful tools when it comes to tracking and trending blood glucose levels, especially over a long period of time such as twelve hours. By using the bloodless glucose meter you can have a reading every 20 minutes for up to a 12 hour period and as many as four thousand readings can be stored in memory and viewed at the touch of a button. The bloodless glucose meter can also be set to alert you if your blood sugar gets too high or too low.

Azurite: Developing the Bloodless Glucose Meter

Azurite is a biotech company that is based in San Francisco and was co-founded by Laura Andrews and Kelly Zebrowski. The main aim of this biotech company is to build a non invasive, (or bloodless glucose monitor).

A New approach to Non Invasive Glucose Testing.

Although this goal is quite familiar, Azurite has taken a different and unique approach where the blood glucose level will be measured through an EM (electromagnetic) sensing system. Therefore, the idea is mainly based on the fact that electromagnetic signals bounce off surfaces and return to the source with a pattern that reflects the surface they have encountered.

Just like any other molecules, glucose molecules reflect unique electromagnetic signals based on their electrical properties. Therefore, Azurite also hopes to bounce electromagnetic signals off the glucose molecules in your blood which will return to the device for an interpretation of how much glucose they have encountered.

There are various research groups that have ascertained the blood glucose level successfully by simply observing electrical properties of blood glucose. Moreover, researchers from the University of Missisipi have demonstrated that a micro-strip patch antenna can help determine the blood glucose levels by measuring the electrical properties of the sample. Azurite has drawn from this research and works of other research groups that have examined electrical properties of blood glucose.

Azurite has modeled a fresh approach that will hopefully lead to a non invasive glucose monitoring device that uses electromagnetic technology to measure electrical properties remotely. Moreover the company is determined to make an impact on diabetics by creating a device that combines convenience and the rich data of accurate continuous testing.

Newest Technologies for Bloodless Glucose Meter

Although there are various technologies being used to develop non invasive testing devices including florescent technology, electromagnetic sensing, mid-infrared spectroscopy and ultrasound technology among other technologies, not all have received FDA approval yet. However, the GlucoTrack has already received the CE Mark approval for use in the EU (European Union).

This type of technology is brand new, but definitely does have a secure place in the proper management of diabetes.

Read on here for more info on the bloodless glucose meter.

Diabetic Food Store

Diabetes Food Store Shopping Guide

Shopping for food unprepared can be quite challenging for anyone. Add diabetes into the mix, and grocery shopping can be absolutely overwhelming. However, by following these simple, stealthy tips you can learn how to stock up your pantry and fridge with healthy diabetes foods that belong in your diet.

As a rule of thumb, you need to focus on fresh food items with the shortest list of ingredients and additives to ensure they’re in their original form – fruits, lean protein, fish and vegetables.

Next, use these 5 tips to get the most out of your visit to the diabetes food store.

Plan ahead when Visiting the Diabetic Food Store.

Mapping out your menu for the week is a must-do before heading to the diabetes food store. After planning what you’ll eat, take an inventory of your food stock and write your shopping list.

You can master your shopping at the diabetes food store by simply setting aside one day per week to do all your planning and grocery shopping.

Planning your menu for the week in advance makes grocery shopping less stressful and you’ll also find it easier to adhere to a healthy diabetes diet. Moreover, it’s important to avoid shopping on an empty stomach.

As a survival mechanism, we usually crave the most calorie-rich foods when we’re hungry. If a diabetic person has low blood sugar, they may go for the most sugary food items to bring up blood glucose the fastest. Therefore, it’s harder to make healthy, balanced choices if you’re shopping in this mode.

Stick to the perimeter of the store

Many fresh and healthful foods are usually placed along the rim of the store – fresh poultry, lean meats, fish, dairy products and fresh produce. Although it’s okay to venture into the inner isles, this is where you should focus on at the diabetes food store. Go for whole-grain cereals, pasta and breads and canned vegetables and beans (no-salt-added-versions).

Exercise extra caution when choosing grains. For instance, products that say “made with whole grains” are not necessarily 100% whole grains.

Make sure the food contains the recommended amount of fiber and that the ingredients include a whole grain product (the word “whole” should be listed first). According to the ADA (American Diabetes Association) men should aim for about 38 grams of fiber per day and 25 grams for women.

Read every label

Marketing usually happens at the front of the package in order to capture buyers’ attention. Flip the package over and check details such as the serving size and total carbohydrates. Total carbs is a key number especially for people with diabetes because carbohydrates raise your blood glucose levels more quickly than fats or protein. Remember, sugar-free foods can still have lots of carbohydrates. As you gradually master the art of making healthy choices and reading labels, your trips to the diabetes food store will become shorter and more enjoyable.

Pay keen attention to foods labeled “sugar-free”

“Sugar-free” can be a red flag especially when it comes to highly processed foods. While these foods may be made without sugar, some contain other ingredients such as sugar that can elevate your blood sugar levels. You should check the label for grams of carbs in foods marked “sugar-free”. It’s also important to read nutrition labels on foods marked as “fat-free” because the removed fat is usually replaced with sugar.

It’s also recommended that you check nutrition labels for the total number of carbohydrates grams. In addition to checking the grams of sugar on the facts panel, it’s also particularly important for diabetics to scan labels for the grams of total carbs because all types of carbohydrates can have an impact on blood sugar levels. Once you know the carbohydrate content and serving size of food, you can easily determine the healthy portion size that fits into your target daily carb intake.

Buy frozen out of season

Eating fresh vegetables and fruits is not the only way to reap their health benefits. Since most vegetables and fruits are usually frozen when they’re at peak readiness, frozen options are both nutrient-dense and highly convenient.

Just be sure to avoid frozen vegetables and fruits with added salt or sugar. Fresh or frozen, choose a wide range of fruits and vegetables to get a wide variety of nutrients.

A healthy, balanced diet should help you and your family (diabetic or not) to eat well, enjoy food and feel good.

Next time you go shopping at a diabetes food store, be sure to use these stealthy guidelines to choose healthier products and get great value for your money.

Liberty Medical Diabetic Supplies

When it comes to diabetic lifestyles, Liberty medical diabetic supplies are essential because without them it could be a matter of life or death. Nowadays, many people with diabetes face the dilemma of either buying diabetic monitoring supplies and medication, or paying bills largely because of insurance issues, job loss or both.

What is Liberty Diabetic Supply?

Liberty Medical Supply works with both you and your insurance provider to ensure that you can still get all the diabetic supplies you need, no matter your condition. The company takes pride in ensuring that all their customers get all the diabetic supplies in order to maintain a comfortable and healthy lifestyle.

Liberty diabetic supplies are dependable and reliable. Liberty Medical Supply provides nationwide home delivery of healthcare supplies and products related to diabetes, urology, ostomy and sleep apnea.

Furthermore, Liberty Medical provides personalized diabetic information and service from specially trained representatives; friendly reorder reminders, free shipping and help with insurance forms. The company’s eligibility requirements are quite simple and straightforward: people living with, caretakers for people living with chronic conditions.

How does Liberty Diabetic Supply Work?

Although most people have heard of these services, not many use them largely because they don’t know how they work or haven’t heard of anyone using them. However, by reading this you’ll understand that Liberty Medical is just another medical supply company committed to helping diabetics with all their diabetic equipment and supplies.

Liberty Medical Supplies works with you and your insurance provider so that often times people living with chronic conditions such as diabetes pay discounted prices.

What are Liberty Diabetes Supplies Products?

Liberty Medical Diabetes Supplies include a wide range of products such as lancets, testing strips, alcohol wipes, and glucometers and glucose monitors so patients don’t have to shop in various places when they can just order all their diabetic supplies from one convenient location.

Therefore, Liberty Diabetic Supply takes some of hassles out of managing chronic conditions. Previously, if a caretaker or someone living with diabetes wanted supplies that weren’t available at the local general store, one of the common ways to get them was to visit other larger stores or pharmacies, sometimes in distant places.

However, traditions shopping practices are falling out of favor largely because an increasing number or people prefer using modern home delivery services such as Liberty Diabetic Supplies. This is largely because such services provide an efficient and easy way to obtain supplies without making frequent trips to the corner store or pharmacy.

Liberty Medical Diabetes Supplies Online

Ordering your diabetic supplies online and getting them delivered via mail is definitely a great idea. Moreover, Liberty Medical keeps buyer information secure so you don’t have to worry about identity theft when ordering your supplies. When diabetic supplies are delivered directly to you, you don’t have to worry about running out of essential supplies again or making trips to the pharmacy. Companies such as Liberty Medical Supply are helping more and more people with diabetes live a healthy lifestyle without worrying about diabetes-related complications. With free and quick deliveries of supplies, Liberty Medical Supply offers convenience and peace of mind in managing diabetes.

Range of Liberty Medical Diabetic Supplies

Liberty Medical Supply (LMS) provides a wide range of diabetic supplies such as insulin pumps, A1C kits, test strips, glucose meters, and glucose monitoring systems. Although not all diabetics are likely to use all of these diabetic supplies, test strips and glucose meters are, however, used by a large number of people living with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Glucose meters and test strips

These tools are commonly used by most people with diabetes in their daily lives. By using glucose meters and test strips to test blood glucose levels over a long period of time, doctors and physicians gain better understanding of your condition which is critical for decision-making. Therefore, by delivering these tools to your doorstep, Liberty Medical Supply helps diabetics monitor their blood sugar levels closely to ensure that they are within range.

Insulin pumps

Liberty Medical Supply also delivers insulin pumps, which are vital for diabetics who need to control the amount of insulin secreted by the pancreas. Monitoring insulin levels is particularly important for people with diabetes because it helps protect the liver and muscles.

Continuous glucose monitoring systems

Continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMs) supplied by Liberty Medical are essential for intense glucose monitoring. CGMs usually consist of a glucose sensor which is placed under the skin which then detects blood glucose levels and transmits readings to the receiver. The receiver logs in patterns and trends over a period of time in order to provide comprehensive results for people with diabetes. Continuous glucose monitoring is very critical for people with extra sensitive blood glucose levels.

A1C kits

A1C kits provide another convenient way of testing and monitoring blood sugar levels by simply viewing your glycosylated hemoglobin levels. Some people with diabetes prefer using a combination of two or even three tools to make sure that results of their blood glucose levels are accurate and reliable.

Liberty Medical Supply works in various different ways; you can submit your prescriptions for anything your physician wants you to get and the company will file the prescription with your insurance provider and then ship it to you or the or the company can work with you on the supplies you’d like to buy and then ship them to your home or office.

Liberty Medical Supply realize that many people have no job or even insurance due to the low economy, so they will work with customers on available payment arrangements or help them find viable alternatives so they can still get all of the diabetic supplies they need in order to maintain their condition in a healthy manner. Some of the groups of people who benefit greatly by ordering diabetic supplies online include people who want privacy, elderly people, people who busy schedules and people with limited mobility.

Check out these Diabetes Supplies for less HERE!

Latest News for the Non Invasive Glucose Monitor

Non Invasive Glucose Monitor

Finally there’s great news with regards to the much sought after non invasive glucose monitor for diabetics. This method of measuring blood glucose levels has been the goal of many different companies over the years, some receiving the CE mark, but none have yet to be marketed.

The non-invasive GlucoTrack

The latest developments with the GlucoTrack model DF-F glucose meter from Integrity Applications, uses 3 different technologies to measure blood glucose levels accurately.

Ultrasonic
Electromagnetic and
Heat capacity. (thermal)

This device consists of a main unit, which is battery operated – a transmitter, receiver and processor and a Personal Ear Clip which attaches to the earlobe. The GlucoTrack non invasive glucose monitor has a USB port to download your personal information and blood glucose levels to your computer, or other storage device, for analysis by you or your diabetes management team.

Even if you need to monitor your blood 5 or 6 times a day, it’s as easy as just clipping the earpiece to your ear and the levels are displayed on the screen, or announced verbally to you within a minute! As easy as that. No more continuous finger pricking to draw blood for testing!

Can I track more than one persons levels on the same meter?

Yes, the main unit of the GlucoTrack meter (model DF-F) can support 3 different users. You will just need a separate PEC (Personal Ear Clip) for each user, as it has to calibrate individually. There are no disposables required for the GlucoTrack, however it is necessary to replace the Personal Ear Clip approximately every 6 months to ensure the accuracy of the measurements.

This meter will alert you ahead of time when it’s necessary to replace the PEC. Integrity Applications has received the CE Mark which allows them to Market and sell the GlucoTrack Meter in European Union, and it is expected to be available for sale to the general public in a few countries during 2014. Check this website regularly for more updates on its availability.

GluCall Non invasive Glucose Monitor

GluCall blood glucose meters, are another prototype that we could be seeing on the market in the not too distant future. GluCall is another painless method of measuring glucose levels, it is worn like a wristwatch and has the ability to give continuous blood glucose readings via the skin. The GluCall also has the capacity to store data for use by your diabetes management team.

C8 Non-invasive Optical Glucose Monitor

This is yet another non invasive glucose monitor that will hopefully hit the open market soon. It uses the power of light, to measure your levels – a painless pulse of light is transmitted into the skin to monitor your levels continuously. The C8 Medisensors have a great battery life, which is always an advantage, getting you through a full day of monitoring.

Included are multiple adaptors, for various EU countries
USB capabilities, to recharge via your computer
Uses Bluetooth technology connecting your smartphone to C8 Medisensors glucose monitors!

Gluco (M) – Monitors sugar levels using Electric Flow

Another design concept that I’m personally looking out for, very sleek looking monitor, worn on the wrist like a bracelet. It works by tracking your glucose levels through your bodily fluids, using an electric flow.

Also stores data and previous readings
Has the capacity to store insulin cartridges in a small built in chamber.

Definitely be watching closely for this model to come onto the market!

Echo Therapeutics Non Invasive Glucose Monitor

The ‘Symphony’ is another innovative idea to make life just a bit easier for diabetics. Developed mainly to target the hospital and critical care patients requiring constant blood glucose monitoring. We at Diabetes Healthy Solutions, will keep a close eye on all further developments regarding all the Non Invasive Glucose Monitors mentioned here, let’s all hope we start to see some on the market very soon for all of us to benefit from!

Read on for more info about the best blood glucose meters HERE!