Hyperglycemia and Hypoglycemia -
Know Your Enemy

By Teri Champigny

You’ve heard the terms before, Hyperglycemia and Hypoglycemia, and you know they are both bad. Do you know which is caused by low blood sugar and which is caused by high blood sugar? Right now you have a fifty/fifty shot at knowing, but after reading this article you’ll be able to know what’s what.

Let’s start out with a little background information. Your blood sugar level is an important role in the energy process that your body works through constantly. This level is measured by how much glucose is in your body at any one time. Too much, and you’ll be at risk to numerous side effects that include; diabetes, coma, and ketoacidosis. Too little, and your brain starts to starve. Let’s look at the difference.

Hyperglycemia:

It is the scientific term for extremely high amounts of glucose in the blood. Left unchecked, it can eventually turn into more serious health problems, like diabetes. There are many symptoms for hyperglycemia. The most common three are excess urine, excess thirst, and excessive hunger. While these symptoms aren’t the trifecta of hyperglycemia, it raises the likelihood enormously.

Ketoacidosis is another result of hyperglycemia. Ketoacidosis means that there are high levels of ketones in the blood, which is dangerous since ketones can poison the body. This is usually a warning sign that your diabetes is getting out of control or you are getting sick. Ketoacidosis also leads to diabetic coma, which can eventually end up in death. Next we’ll talk about hypoglycemia, which is at the other end of the spectrum.

Hypoglycemia: 

It is the exact opposite of hyperglycemia. It means there’s not enough glucose in your blood to adequately feed your body, and more importantly, your brain. There is a grocery’s list of symptom that happens with the onset of hypoglycemia. Some of the symptoms are as follows: sweating, hunger, dizziness, tremors, and lack of consciousness. While these aren’t the only symptoms, they are some of the easier ones to notice on yourself or others.

Hypoglycemia usually occurs when the body produces or receives too much insulin for the amount of blood sugar it has. When your blood sugar drops to a certain level, hypoglycemia kicks in. It’s fairly easy to counteract, as long as you don’t panic and think rationally. If you suspect you have hypoglycemia, you must eat something high in carbohydrates immediately. Anything with sugar or starches is alright, however most people believe sugar is quicker than starch as it breaks down faster.

There you have it, the difference between two commonly mixed up words. While it may seem trivial to you now, knowing the difference between the two can save a life in the future.