Hyperglycemia is a condition in which plasma glucose levels exceed normal value... So that there are no health problems, what is dangerous high sugar in the blood, you need to know.

Modern man is used to eating a lot of sugar-rich foods every day, much more than the body actually needs.

Constant excess acceptable level dangerously disrupting the normal functioning of organs, which can lead in the future serious illnesses such as grade I or II diabetes.

Glucose metabolism in the body

To understand the causes of the disease, it is necessary to outline the processes taking place in the body. Glucose is formed from sugar consumed by humans. Carbohydrates are broken down by digestive enzymes into small molecules. Finally, glucose is produced in the intestines, which is distributed through the bloodstream throughout the body.

Its importance is difficult to overestimate - it is “blood sugar” that provides energy for the normal functioning of cells, tissues and organs. After each meal, there is an increase in blood sugar. But this state is always short-lived and very quickly returns to normal.

However, another situation is also possible. If such jumps in sugar levels are observed often and continue for a long time, pathological changes will inevitably begin to occur in the body.

To break down glucose, the hormone insulin is needed, which is produced in the pancreas. The higher the blood sugar level, the more insulin is needed, the greater the load on the pancreas. As a result, it is damaged and cannot produce insulin in sufficient quantity and quality. Because of this, type I diabetes mellitus develops.

The mechanism of development of the most common type of diabetes (type II) is different.

In this case, the pancreas secretes insulin in sufficient quantities, but for various reasons, the sensitivity of beta cells to it is much lower.

Causes of high sugar levels

Sugar level

Studies have established a whole complex of reasons for the development of hyperglycemia.

The most obvious causes of hyperglycemia ( increased level blood sugar) only two - dysfunction of the pancreas, an unhealthy lifestyle.

One of the most common risk factors for the development of the disease is the consumption of large quantities of soda, fast food and so-called "simple" carbohydrates.

In addition, the factors in the development of the disease are:

• stress can cause your blood sugar to rise. The fact is that the action of stress hormones is opposite to that of insulin, so its work is blocked;
• lack of vitamins;
• lack of physical activity;
• excess weight;
• a sharp change in body weight;
• insulin injection in an incorrectly calculated dosage;
• elderly age;
• hereditary predisposition;
• taking some groups of drugs on a hormonal basis.

But in some situations, high sugar levels can be considered normal. For example, immediately after a meal, when glucose enters the bloodstream. Hyperglycemia is often observed after sports. Severe pain, burns, as well as some painful conditions (epilepsy, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction) can also slightly increase blood sugar levels. But usually this effect is short-lived.

As for children, then high sugar in the blood it is observed, first of all, in situations where the child is often overfed, especially with sweets. Hyperglycemia is often the result of infection, prolonged drug use, and lowered immunity. In young children, sugar often rises with the start of complementary foods, when cereals and dairy products are added to the diet.

It should be said that hyperglycemia is hereditary. Therefore, if there are people with diabetes in the family, then this disease can manifest itself in children.

In this case, the twins usually "together" suffer from manifestations of hyperglycemia.

Why is hyperglycemia dangerous?

Knowing the causes of hyperglycemia, it is easy to guess what is harmful to blood sugar and what is dangerous to human health. First of all, if hyperglycemia recurs frequently, there is a high risk that the disease will begin to progress.

First of all, the work of some organs, including the pancreas, may suffer. And this, in turn, is the risk of developing diabetes.

The blood sugar content of 17 or 18 mmol / l or more is very dangerous. The higher the sugar level, the greater the likelihood of severe consequences. This figure is already considered a significant complication. With an increase in glucose concentration to this level, such serious conditions as fainting, ketoacidosis, and heart failure are possible.

With a significant increase in sugar, there is a risk of coma, a condition that is critically life-threatening.

The most common ketoacitodic coma, in which the content of ketone bodies in the blood rises sharply. Due to a decrease in the level of the hormone insulin, glucose is not broken down, therefore, a sufficient amount of energy does not enter the cells. To make up for the shortage, proteins and fats begin to be processed, and their breakdown products have a harmful effect on the brain.

A hypermolar coma is possible only if the sugar level reaches the critical limit - 50 mmol / L, which is quite rare. This condition is caused by the rapid loss of fluid by the body. As a result, the blood thickens, the work of organs and the nervous system is disrupted.

Lactic acid-demiotic coma occurs at an even higher glucose level, and therefore is even less common than hypersmolar coma. It occurs due to a significant increase in the content of lactic acid in the blood and tissues. Since lactic acid is toxic, then with a sharp increase in concentration, impaired consciousness, paresis or vascular dysfunction may develop.

Finally, increased amount sugar is harmful because it "helps" the development of cancer cells. Like healthy tissues, affected tissues also need energy. High level sugar stimulates the production of IGF and insulin, which promote glucose uptake.

Therefore, pathologically altered tissues with a high sugar content develop faster and affect healthy ones faster.

Normal blood sugar

Blood sugar is one of the indicators of human health. In order to determine if there are alarming symptoms, it is necessary to undergo a full examination, including tests. So they take from the finger and from the vein. Do not eat or drink water on the day of the procedure. Should be avoided whenever possible physical activity, stress, as they can affect the final result.

Normal blood sugar levels are the same for both women and men, but varies slightly depending on where the blood was taken from:

1. From a finger - from 3.3 to 5.5 mmol / liter.
2. From a vein - 4-6 mmol / liter.

An indicator of 5.5 mmol / l indicates that sugar is normal and there is no need to worry. But if the indicator is higher - up to 6.5 mmol / l, impaired glucose tolerance develops. In this state of the body, diabetes does not yet develop, although there is already a direct threat to health. In this case, it is already required to take measures to prevent the development of the disease.

An indicator of 6.5 or more already indicates that diabetes mellitus has already developed with a high probability.

It is also normal to have a slight increase in blood sugar levels during pregnancy. During this period, the metabolism changes greatly in order to provide the child with the necessary nutrition and development. Therefore, 3.8-5.8 mmol / l is a completely normal indicator. An increase in glucose levels up to 6.0 mmol / L already suggests that more attention should be paid to health.

Those who plan to undergo examination with children should check their sugar levels and theirs is excellent for parents. For children, normal values ​​are lower than for adults. For example, in a child less than one year old, the blood sugar level should not be below 2.2 mmol / L and above 4.4 mmol / L. In the future, this indicator will increase: from 1 year to 5 years, 3.3-5 mmol / l is considered normal.

Diabetes causes irreversible changes in the body. And the reason for such changes is high or low level Sahara. Any significant deviations from normal rate(3.3–5.5 millimoles per liter) are dangerous to the health and life of the patient. Let's consider what glucose indicators are critical for a person and how to help him.

In principle, for a healthy body, any increase in glucose above 7.8 mmol can be considered critical, since above this line irreversible processes of destruction of the body are triggered. The same can be said when this level falls below 2.8 mmol.

However, in diabetes, these indicators jump within a very wide range, sometimes reaching exorbitant 55 mmol and even more. To somehow imagine what this figure means, note that in this state, one liter of blood contains 10 grams of sugar - two teaspoons.

The danger to the body is the excess of glucose up to 13-17 mmol per liter. In this condition, acetone is present in the urine. All patients can independently determine the presence of ketone in urine using test strips.

If the blood sugar is over 10 mmol, then it also appears in the urine, and this indicator is also dangerous. And in fact, and in another case, insulin should be administered. If this is not done, then there is a high risk of hyperglycemic coma.

Critical glucose levels also occur with a sudden decrease in glucose. Not all people are equally tolerant of a decrease in sugar: in some, distinct symptoms of hypoglycemia are observed at 3.2 mmol, while others feel well at 2.5 mmol or even less.

Sometimes in diabetes, a sharp relative decrease in glucose (to normal limits) also causes signs of hypoglycemia. In all these cases, the patient should be given some easily digestible carbohydrates. If this is not done, the glucose level will continue to fall, which will cause loss of consciousness, seizures and, finally, death.

What is the fatal sugar indicator?

In patients with diabetes mellitus sugar levels are 15-17 millimoles per liter. This contributes to the development of hyperglycemic coma. However, not everyone develops hyperglycemia with the same glucose levels. In some people, even levels as low as 17 millimoles per liter do not cause overt symptoms. That is why there are no definite indicators that are fatal to humans.

There are some differences in the clinical course of hyperglycemic coma in patients depending on the type of diabetes. So, for insulin-dependent diabetes dehydration develops rapidly, as well as ketoacidosis. On the contrary, with non-insulin-dependent diabetes in patients, only dehydration progresses. However, it can be very pronounced, so it can be difficult to get the patient out of this dangerous state.

In severe diabetes, a person develops a ketoacidotic coma. Most often, this condition occurs in patients with the first type of diabetes, complicated infectious disease... Often, the development of ketoacidotic coma with an underestimated dose of insulin. The main symptoms of this condition are as follows:

• excretion of sugar in the urine, because of which it becomes very much;
• rapid development of dehydration;
• the accumulation of ketone bodies in the blood due to the fact that the cells of the body begin to consume fats for energy purposes;
• weakness, drowsiness;
• dry mouth;
• dry skin;
• the appearance of acetone odor from the mouth;
• deep and noisy breathing (as a result of compensation high content carbon dioxide in the blood).

With a further increase in blood sugar, a hyperosmolar coma develops. This condition is characterized by extremely high levels of glucose (its level can rise to 55 mmol). Such figures are limiting for the body. The state of hyperosmolarity is not accompanied by ketoacidosis. Despite this, such a coma requires emergency... It develops gradually. The main signs of the development of a hyperosmolar coma:

• copious flow of urine;
• the patient drinks a lot of liquid, but, despite this, cannot quench his thirst;
• following water, the body loses a large amount of minerals;
• dehydration, weakness, drowsiness increase rapidly;
• facial features become sharp;
• dryness of the skin, oral cavity increases;
• shortness of breath develops.

Only immediate hospitalization can prevent the death of a person. No amount of home methods will help normalize the condition.

Critical sugar levels in hypoglycemia

When rapid decline glucose hypoglycemia develops. This condition can develop spontaneously and is always life threatening. Since the brain is the largest consumer of glucose, it suffers first of all during hypoglycemia. People suffering from hypoglycemia require urgent medical attention.

With mild hypoglycemia, the following symptoms occur:

• trembling and chills;
• loss of sensitivity of the tip of the tongue;
• weakness of the limbs;
• dizziness;
• pallor, sweating;
• the person is confused, cannot navigate in time and space.

If you immediately eat something sweet, this condition disappears. However, this must be done as early as possible, otherwise, with the progression of hypoglycemia, a person may lose consciousness, and it will be much more difficult to save him.

In severe hypoglycemia, the patient loses consciousness. In this case, an injection of glucagon can save him. The patient or his relatives need to constantly measure blood sugar in order to achieve their normalization.

What to do with an onset hyperglycemic coma

If a patient develops nausea, vomiting, and signs of general malaise, it is likely that he has not only an upset stomach, but a sign of an incipient hyperglycemic coma. The principle of helping a person in this state is the frequent subcutaneous injection of short-acting insulin.

If two attempts at self-correction of glucose were unsuccessful, an urgent need to call a doctor.

The patient needs to learn how to correctly calculate the correction dose of insulin in case of hyperglycemia, depending on the presence of acetone in the blood. The simplest method for calculating a correction dose is to administer an additional 1 unit of insulin if your glucose is elevated by 1.5–2.5 millimoles. When acetone appears, the amount of insulin must be doubled.

If you manage to achieve a decrease in glucose, you need to take fast-digesting carbohydrates. This must be done in order to prevent the development of the so-called hungry ketosis. For the urge to vomit, sweet tea is recommended.

Prevention of hypo- and hyperglycemia

A diabetic should always know how to help himself in the event of an unexpected drop in blood sugar.

1. You should always have a glucose preparation with you.
2. When stable, fast-digesting carbohydrates are not allowed.
3. It is imperative to lead a healthy lifestyle, give up alcohol and cigarettes, and exercise.
4. Care should be taken to ensure that the type and amount of insulin administered is fully consistent with the blood glucose values.
5. To always know these indicators, it is imperative to have an accurate glucometer at home that allows you to quickly determine your glucose level. The presence of a glucometer will help to catch the moment of the onset of hyperglycemia and quickly respond to this process.
6. You need to learn how to independently calculate the dosage of insulin.

Remember that everyone is quite capable of controlling diabetes and preventing glucose from deviating to critical levels.

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With diabetes mellitus, long-term deficiency energy resources leads to the fact that fats begin to be used as an energy material. But the burning of fats is accompanied by the formation of toxic ketone bodies (acetone). The appearance of ketone bodies in the blood leads to an increase in the acidity of all body tissues (ketoacidosis), which is accompanied by severe intoxication.

Acetone in urine appears when the blood sugar level rises to 13-17 mmol / l and when it rises in urine above 3%. In this case, in the school of diabetes mellitus, patients are taught to determine the presence of acetone in the urine. This is done using special test strips. If acetone is found in the urine, patients need to inject insulin and conduct a general alkalinization of the body, for example, using a cleansing enema with a 2% soda solution.

A large amount of sugar in the blood is accompanied by its excretion from the body in the urine. Sugar is excreted in the urine when its blood level reaches 10–11 mmol / L. This is a dangerous condition, since together with a large amount of fluid is removed and dehydration occurs. Acidosis and dehydration can lead to a critical condition called hyperglycemic coma.

The harbingers of an incipient hyperglycemic coma are: sugar in the urine (glucosuria), increased daily urine volume (polyuria), thirst (the patient can drink up to 10 liters or more of water per day - polydipsia), violation of mineral, protein and lipid metabolism. Prolonged critical blood sugar levels can cause serious complications from the internal organs.

The critical level of blood sugar can be even with a sharp decrease in it. Have healthy people a drop in blood sugar is considered critical when its content in the blood is 3.2 mmol, l. Nevertheless, there are people who feel normal even at a level of 2.5 mmol / l. So the lower critical level, even in healthy people, is not always the same.

In diabetes mellitus, the state of hypoglycemia can cause relatively reduced level blood sugar, that is, a state of hypoglycemia can develop simply with a sharp decrease in blood sugar, while the indicator may be higher than the upper limit of the norm.

If you monitor the sugar content in the blood and urine, promptly detect the presence of acetone in the urine, adjust the treatment, then patients with diabetes mellitus can live for many years without any complications.

Deadly blood sugar

Blood sugar levels in diabetic patients can reach 15 mmol / l and higher, which leads to the development of hyperglycemic coma. But this is not the case for all patients, some even with a higher blood sugar content feel normal. Therefore, there are no definite deadly indicators for upper blood sugar levels. In type I and II diabetes mellitus, hyperglycemic coma proceeds in different ways. With insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (type I), ketoacidosis and dehydration of the body develop, whereas with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (type II), only dehydration develops, but it is so pronounced that it is extremely difficult to get the patient out of this state.

A feature of hyperglycemic comas is that they develop gradually and a patient who has been trained in a diabetes school may well catch a dangerous moment and take necessary measures... Ketoacidotic hyperglycemic coma in patients with type I diabetes mellitus develops in severe diabetes mellitus complicated by any other disease (flu, sore throat, etc.), trauma, during pregnancy, any operation, insufficient dose of insulin etc.

An increase in blood sugar is combined with its excretion in the urine. A large amount of fluid is excreted along with sugar, which causes dehydration. The use of fats by the cells of the body as a source of energy causes the appearance in the blood of a large amount toxic substances- ketone bodies that cause ketoacidosis. Ketone bodies are also excreted in the urine.

The patient develops weakness, lethargy, drowsiness, dry skin, dry mouth, thirst, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain , copious urination, acetone odor from the mouth ... For such patients, deep breathing is characteristic, which is a natural mechanism for compensating for acidosis. Deep breathing allows you to expel excess carbon dioxide from the blood, which means maintaining the normal acidity of the tissues.

Hyperosmolar diabetic coma in patients with type II diabetes mellitus develops with very high rates blood sugar (the maximum blood sugar level reaches 50–55 mmol / l) and is not accompanied by ketoacidosis. However, it is also a very dangerous condition that requires urgent care.

Hyperosmolar diabetic coma develops gradually over one to two weeks. The patient drinks a lot of fluids and urinates a lot, while losing the minerals necessary for the body. Dehydration, lethargy, weakness increase. Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, characteristic of a ketoacidotic diabetic coma, does not happen. Dryness of the skin and mucous membranes increases, the eyes sink, the facial features become aggravated. Shortness of breath appears, but breathing is usually shallow, there is no smell of acetone from the mouth. Only immediate hospitalization can prevent the death of such a patient.