Defining Hyperglycemia

Hyperglycemia, for the diabetic person, is defined as a blood sugar level that is higher than the normal accepted range of 80-120 mg/dl. For the person who is not diabetic, a normal fasting (no food 12 hours before the test) glucose level is less than 126 mg/dl. Do not be swayed by the term "normal," however, since "normal" is truly an individual thing. If your "normal" fasting blood sugar is 150 mg/dl, and you do not have any symptoms of hyperglycemia, it is up to you and your doctor to determine if any action needs to be taken. For those with long-term diabetes, who may have not had good control in the past, 150 mg/dl may be a perfectly acceptable fasting value. Talk to your doctor about what is "normal" for you, and work together to reach that goal.