High Blood Sugar and DKA

I have talked a few times about low blood sugar, so now I will go to the opposite end of the spectrum and talk about high blood sugar.

For me, High Blood Glucose (Hyperglycemia) can happen because I haven't taken enough insulin, I am stressed out or sick.  The main symptoms are increased thirst and frequent urination, but when my blood sugar is high I also can get lethargic and/or crabby.

Hyperglycemia happens to all diabetics at some time.  This is normal.  The problems occur when your blood sugar is high continuously.  Hyperglycemia can bring on a very dangerous problem called Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA.)  DKA occurs when the blood sugar is high because of an insulin deficiency (which makes sense, because without insulin a diabetic has no way to bring their blood sugar down.)  Rather than trying to explain it myself, here is a definition from mayoclinic.com:

"Sugar is a main source of energy for the cells that make up your muscles and other tissues. Normally, sugar enters your cells with the help of insulin. If you don't have enough insulin in your body, your body won't be able to use sugar for energy. This prompts the release of hormones that break down fat as an alternate fuel. In turn, this process produces toxic acids known as ketones. Excess ketones accumulate in the blood and eventually "spill over" into the urine."

Symptoms of DKA include:  frequent urination, excessive thirst, vomiting, dry mouth, confusion, increased heart rate and rate of breathing, and the most distinctive, a fruity odor on the breath.  DKA can be confirmed at home by taking a simple urine test using a urine test strip.  Spilling ketones into your urine is serious and you should contact your doctor if this happens.  Normally, if you are able to bring your glucose level down to normal, you will stop spilling ketones.  However, this is sometimes more easily said than done, especially if you are ill for a few days in a row.  If left untreated, DKA can be fatal.

Complications of long term hyerglycemia include:  blindness, amputations due to nerve damage, heart disease and kidney disease.

Ugh.