Hyperglycemia tips to keep you ahead of high glucose symptoms

Photo of Dawn, a FreeStyle Libre customer, looking off into the distance.

Dawn didn’t know anything was wrong—until her FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus alarm¹⁸ went off in the middle of the night. Her glucose was climbing.

“I went some unknown amount of time with elevated glucose and had no idea^6,495,” she says. She feels grateful for the alerts: “It’s like being shaken awake by someone who loves you.”

High glucose can be confusing, especially when you’re not sure what’s causing it⁴⁷². Sometimes, you might miss hyperglycemia signs and symptoms altogether⁴⁷⁵.

The emotional burden is real—people living with diabetes experience distress about hyperglycemia about half the time⁴⁹⁰. You deserve a hyperglycemia care plan that works for you.

With the FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus system you’ll know when glucose is too low, too high, or right where it should be so you can make more confident choices⁷. In fact, for people with elevated HbA1c levels, a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) is shown to lead to significant reductions in those levels⁴⁷⁶.

Read on to learn about hyperglycemia:

Causes
Symptoms
Prevention Tips

What is hyperglycemia—and what causes it?

Person wearing a glucose sensor and backpack outdoors beside hyperglycemia information and diabetes education text.

Hyperglycemia happens when you have too much glucose in your blood stream. When your body has too little insulin or can’t use it properly, this glucose can’t enter your cells for energy⁴⁷⁷.

If you're living with diabetes, the systems that normally help move glucose out of your blood and into your cells might not be working as efficiently⁴⁷⁸.

A HbA1c test measures your average glucose levels over the past 2-3 months. The higher your levels, the higher your risk of developing complications³⁰².

Hyperglycemia doesn’t typically cause symptoms until glucose levels rise above about 10 - 11.1 mmol/L⁴⁷⁵. In many cases, people don’t experience symptoms until their levels are around 13.9 mmol/L⁴⁷⁷.

What causes high glucose levels? Common triggers include⁴⁷⁷:

Eating more carbohydrates than your body can process at the moment
Changes in your physical activity—like moving around less than usual
Stress, illness, or even poor sleep
Missed medication or medication not suited to your needs
Dehydration⁴⁹³
Dawn phenomenon, a common surge in glucose in early morning hours

How to recognize hyperglycemia signs and symptoms

Your body has ways of letting you know when glucose is running high. Some common early symptoms to look out for include⁴⁷⁷:

Headaches
Frequent urination (peeing)
Feeling excessively thirsty or hungry
Feeling very tired
Blurred vision

You might start to feel symptoms at a different glucose level than someone else⁴⁷⁷. Following your healthcare provider’s advice for regular glucose monitoring can help you catch rising glucose sooner⁴⁹⁴.

What happens if you don’t treat hyperglycemia?

Person applying adhesive bandage to another person's arm.

Long-term symptoms of hyperglycemia include⁴⁷⁷:

Unintentional weight loss
Recurrent infections (e.g. skin or bladder infections)
Cuts and sores that take longer to heal

High glucose levels can lead to a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)⁴⁸¹. This is a medical emergency where your body starts breaking down fat for fuel, instead of glucose, which creates an acid called ketones⁴⁸¹. Left untreated, this can lead to serious complications, including coma⁴⁸¹.

The FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus system automatically calculates the percentage of time you spend in, above, and below your glucose target range, helping you understand your hyperglycemia patterns over time^30,31.

Care plan and practical tips to avoid hyperglycemia.

Diabetes management can be stressful⁴⁹⁰. Start with a small but powerful step—understanding how factors like food, movement, hydration, and stress can cause your glucose levels to change³³⁸.

CGMs are great companions for tracking glucose.

Continuous glucose monitoring with the FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus system lets you easily see patterns in your readings to learn how food, activity, and insulin impact your glucose¹⁷. App readings, graphs, and trend arrows make it easier to make more informed choices⁷, while optional, escalating alarms¹⁸ let you know the minute glucose is too high.

Image of a plate of food containing vegetables and protein.

Make friends with balanced eating.

As you build your plate, be sure to pair carbs with protein, fat, or fiber. This can help keep your glucose from rising too quickly³⁸³.

Person walking outside carrying a water bottle checks his watch.

Move in ways that feel good.

Physical activity helps your body use glucose more efficiently³³³. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week, which could look like 30 minutes a day, five days a week⁴⁸⁴.

Check your glucose before and after exercising, as activity can sometimes cause it to drop ³³³.

Woman exercising outside stops to take a sip from her water bottle.

Keep a water bottle handy.

Water plays a big role in keeping your body balanced⁴⁸⁵. It helps flush out extra glucose and supports overall well-being⁴⁸⁶.

Try to sip water throughout the day, and if you want to mix it up, infuse it with slices of cucumber or sugar-free flavorings⁴⁸⁷.

Make space for calm.

Life can get stressful, and stress can affect your glucose, too⁴⁸⁸. Find ways to reduce stress when you can, like yoga or meditation.

Learn your unique patterns.

Everyone’s body is different. With tools like the FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus system you can track your patterns over time and learn how your body responds to different foods, activities, and moments in your day^30,31.

Feel confident in how you lower your glucose levels, one step at a time.

Remember that small, consistent actions can make the biggest difference for hyperglycemia.

Whether it’s staying on top of your medication⁴⁷⁷, making balanced food choices⁴⁸³, staying active³³³, or managing stress⁴⁸⁸, small steps can help prevent glucose spikes and support your overall well-being.

With the FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus system you’re not just tracking numbers—you’re building confidence and turning daily care into long-term progress.