Hyperglycemia Emergency: What to Do When Blood Sugar Spikes Dangerously

When your blood sugar climbs past safe levels and keeps rising, you’re facing a hyperglycemia emergency, a life-threatening condition where high blood sugar leads to severe dehydration, organ stress, or coma. Also known as a diabetic crisis, it doesn’t wait for symptoms to get worse—it demands immediate action. This isn’t just about feeling tired or thirsty. It’s about your body losing control, and if ignored, it can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition where your body starts breaking down fat for energy, creating toxic acids called ketones or hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, a dangerous spike in blood sugar that thickens your blood and strains your kidneys and brain.

Most people who face a hyperglycemia emergency have diabetes—either type 1 or type 2—but it can also happen to those who don’t know they have it. Missing insulin doses, getting sick with an infection, or even taking certain steroids can trigger it. You might notice extreme thirst, frequent urination, blurry vision, or confusion. But the real danger is when you start breathing fast, smell fruity on your breath, or feel nauseous to the point of vomiting. These aren’t just side effects—they’re red flags your body is shutting down.

What makes this worse is that many people wait too long to act. They think, "I’ll check it tomorrow," or "It’s just high, not dangerous." But a blood sugar over 300 mg/dL for hours, especially with ketones in your urine, is a medical emergency. You can’t treat this with more water or a walk. You need insulin, fluids, and often hospital care. Even if you’ve never had this happen before, if you’re on insulin or other diabetes meds, you need to know the signs.

The posts below cover real stories and practical advice from people who’ve been through this—or helped someone who was. You’ll find guides on recognizing the early warning signs before it turns critical, what to do when you’re alone and can’t reach a doctor, how to test for ketones at home, and why some medications can make high blood sugar worse instead of better. There’s also advice on preventing these emergencies by adjusting your routine when you’re sick, stressed, or traveling. This isn’t theory. It’s what works when seconds count.