Hyperglycemia is the medical term for high blood sugar levels. It occurs when the body lacks insulin, a hormone that regulates glucose as fuel for the body cells. It is the leading indicator of diabetes. In 2019, our Health Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad, claimed that 3.6 million Malaysians were suffering from diabetes; this number has increased to 3.9 million in 2020.

In medical terms, anyone with a blood glucose level of around 125mg/dl to 180mg/dl is considered diabetic, and anyone with a blood glucose level of around 100mg/dl to 125mg/dl is at the pre-diabetic stage. Hyperglycemia can cause severe conditions like diabetic coma. Less serious conditions might include complications such as blurry vision, kidney failure, inconsistent heartbeat, and nervous system damage, which can increase the risk of having a stroke.

Causes

Hyperglycemia can be caused by various reasons including insufficient insulin intake, lack of physical activity, or emotional stress. In general, hyperglycemia is caused by the inability of the human body to maintain a proper balance of insulin and glucagon. This happens when the glucose produced by the liver and glucose intake level by the peripheral cells are not in sync.  

Insulin is responsible for regulating the overall glucose production and intake to maintain the  body’s wellbeing. When the pancreatic cells cannot produce sufficient insulin, the body’s glucose amount and balance go haywire. The excessive increase in glucose is known as Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes when the human body becomes immune to regular insulin levels. Diabetic patients have a higher risk of developing hyperglycemia, especially when they do not take their diabetic medications on time or in the proper dose. 

Food consumption is also a general factor for causing hyperglycemia. Eating too much carbohydrate-rich food could cause a spike in blood glucose levels. Hormone regulation is another key factor that contributes to hyperglycemia. Injuries, mental distress, and infections can cause the human body to produce more hormones to cope with the body’s distress. This can indirectly result in a significant boost in blood glucose levels. Lastly, people with a sweet tooth who do not exercise regularly are more likely to have hyperglycemia.

Symptoms

Symptoms during the early stages of the disease include headaches, increased thirst, fatigue, bad vision, and increased frequency of urination. If left untreated, this could lead to the body having trouble producing insulin and body cells lacking their energy source to function properly. Subsequently, the cells will start digesting body fats for energy and inevitably produce ketoacidosis as a side effect. Ketoacidosis is life-threatening. A build-up of ketoacidosis could cause the individual to experience unpredictable weight loss, dry skin, abdominal pain, and vomiting, and fall into a coma. This will eventually lead to a slower rate of wound healing and more frequent infections.

Prevention

Hyperglycemia is preventable with a healthy lifestyle. Among others, a low carbohydrate diet plan and regular exercise are important in keeping blood glucose levels low. Daily monitoring of the blood glucose levels is also vital. Diabetic patients should also be diligent in taking their diabetic medication to stimulate insulin growth and suppress glucose levels. 

The stem cell solution

As hyperglycemia is caused by hormonal and cell imbalance, stem cells can be a formidable tool in treating this condition. Embryonic stem cells in particular have been clinically proven to be able to differentiate into insulin. The growth of numbers in insulin reflects the increase of pancreatic Beta cells. Furthermore, studies also indicate that embryonic stem cells are still able to carry the differentiation process into the pancreatic endocrine path. In other words, injecting stem cells into hyperglycemia patients will help them to produce more pancreatic Beta cells, which will stimulate their hormonal activity and help control the body’s glucose production.

Stem cell therapy is now available at Danai Medi-Wellness. Check it out here.