Hyperglycemia is a medical term meaning having very high levels of blood glucose. The World Health Organization defines hyperglycemia as fasting blood glucose levels that reach 7.0 mmol/L or higher, or a blood glucose reading of 11.0 mmol/L two hours after meals.

Blood glucose exists in a range, and when it goes above these levels it is defined as hyperglycemia. However, you don’t simply either have hyperglycemia or not. The difference between the effects of mild hyperglycemia and extreme hyperglycemia can be profound.

There are also huge differences in outcomes between an acute hyperglycemic episode and chronic hyperglycemia, which is the precursor to type 2 diabetes. Any hyperglycemia can be damaging, but when blood glucose levels are elevated constantly the body’s health is severely impacted, and some of the damage can be irreparable. Continue reading →

Exercise is recommended for lowering high blood sugar levels, yet many patients ignore the importance. Some patients have complained about exercise as being a nuisance or a boring chore.

If you are diagnosed with diabetes or any illness that leads you to having a difficulty in controlling your blood sugar levels, exercise will be prescribed as part of your treatment plan.

At this point, the patient needs to recognize that the exercise advised is not is not for the discretionary goal of “getting fit”, which they may see no need for. It is a very necessary process, combined with dietary improvements, that is essential for getting blood sugar down to non-dangerous levels, and keeping them there. Continue reading →