*Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS* website.**
	Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or see this week's feature L: Laxatives.

High Blood Sugar Hyperglycaemia

High blood sugar (hyperglycaemia) is where the level of sugar in your blood is too high. It mainly affects people with diabetes and can be serious if not treated.

People with diabetes can also have blood sugar that's too low. This is called low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia).

High blood sugar levels

If you have diabetes, you can find out if your blood sugar level is high by having a blood sugar (blood glucose) test.

You may have regular tests by your care team or GP surgery, or you may have tests you can do at home.

Type of test	High level
Test done by a health professional to check your blood sugar level over the last 2 or 3 months (HbA1c test)	48 mmol/mol or over (6.5% if you're given a percentage)
Test done by a health professional after not eating for a few hours (fasting glucose test)	Over 7 mmol/L
Home test done after waking up or before eating	Over 7 mmol/L
Home test done at any other time	Over 11 mmol/L

Important

These blood sugar levels are a guide. Your levels may be different depending on your age and the type of diabetes you have. Check with your doctor or care team.

Symptoms of high blood sugar

Symptoms of high blood sugar usually come on gradually and may only start when your blood sugar level gets very high.

Common symptoms include:

feeling very thirsty
peeing a lot
feeling weak or tired
blurred vision
losing weight

Causes of high blood sugar

Common causes of high blood sugar in people with diabetes include:

being unwell
feeling stressed
eating too much sugary or starchy food
being less active than usual
missing doses of diabetes medicine

You can also get high blood sugar if your diabetes medicine is not working well, you're taking certain medicines (such as steroids) or you recently had an operation.

How to lower your blood sugar

If you have diabetes, it's important to try to stop your blood sugar level getting too high.

Do

take any diabetes medicine you've been prescribed, as advised by your doctor or care team
avoid eating too much sugary or starchy food
try to find ways to manage stress
exercise regularly
lose weight if you're overweight
follow advice from your doctor or care team about what to do while you're ill (sometimes called "sick day rules")

Don't

do not skip or change doses of your diabetes medicine unless advised by your doctor or care team

Speak to your care team or GP surgery if:

you've tried to lower your blood sugar but your blood sugar level is still high or you still have symptoms
you have symptoms of high blood sugar and you have not been diagnosed with diabetes

Problems caused by high blood sugar

It's not usually a serious problem if your blood sugar is sometimes slightly high for a short time.

But high blood sugar can cause serious problems if it stays high for a long time or gets to a very high level.

It can lead to:

permanent damage to the nerves in your hands and feet (peripheral neuropathy)
permanent damage to your eyes and problems with your sight (diabetic retinopathy)
life-threatening conditions such as diabetic ketoacidosis

If you have high blood sugar, your doctor or care team may ask you to test your blood or pee to check for ketones. A high level of ketones is a sign of diabetic ketoacidosis.

Call your care team immediately or get help from NHS 111 if:

You think you have high blood sugar and:

you're feeling sick, being sick or have stomach pain
you're breathing more quickly than usual or your heart is beating faster than usual
you feel drowsy or are struggling to stay awake
your breath has a fruity smell (like pear drop sweets)
you feel confused or have difficulty concentrating
you have a high level of ketones in your blood or pee

These could be signs you're becoming seriously unwell.

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health continues and you can read this week's feature L: Laxatives. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features. If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.
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