When an infection occurs, your body’s defense can lead to a temporary rise in blood sugar levels, even in non-diabetics. This is a natural part of the body’s stress response to illness. While it might seem concerning, understanding why this happens and what it means for your health is important. This temporary elevation typically resolves as your body recovers from the infection.
How Infections Influence Blood Sugar
Infections trigger a complex physiological response. This involves the release of hormones like cortisol and adrenaline from the adrenal glands. These stress hormones prepare the body by providing a rapid energy supply. Cortisol promotes glucose production in the liver and decreases cell sensitivity to insulin, leading to temporary insulin resistance. Adrenaline stimulates the liver to release stored glucose and inhibits insulin action.
These hormonal changes ensure more glucose is available in the bloodstream, fueling immune cells and vital organs to combat the infection. The body also produces inflammatory proteins called cytokines during an infection. These cytokines can induce insulin resistance, making it harder for cells to absorb glucose. Reduced physical activity during illness can also contribute to temporary insulin resistance and higher blood glucose levels.
The body’s increased metabolic demand to fight infection necessitates more circulating glucose. This elevation in blood sugar is a protective mechanism to fuel the immune response, though it results in glucose levels higher than typically observed. This stress-induced hyperglycemia is common during various infections.
Recognizing Elevated Blood Sugar During Illness
Symptoms of elevated blood sugar (hyperglycemia) can occur during an infection even without a diabetes diagnosis. Common indicators include increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, blurred vision, or headaches.
Recognizing these symptoms during illness can be challenging, as they often overlap with the infection itself. For example, fatigue is common to both high blood sugar and many infections. Increased fluid intake due to fever might also mask excessive thirst. Monitoring blood sugar levels might be considered if you are feeling unusually unwell or if a healthcare provider suggests it.
When to Seek Medical Attention
While temporary blood sugar elevations during illness are common, certain signs warrant medical attention. Seek medical attention if high blood sugar symptoms become severe or persist, such as significant thirst, frequent urination, or unexplained fatigue disproportionate to your illness. Contact a healthcare provider if your infection symptoms worsen.
More serious symptoms requiring immediate medical attention include confusion, rapid breathing, or a fruity breath odor. These could indicate diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which, though more common in people with diagnosed diabetes, can occasionally occur in non-diabetics under extreme stress like severe infection. Abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting alongside high blood sugar symptoms also signal a need for urgent care.
Distinguishing Temporary Spikes from Diabetes
A temporary rise in blood sugar due to an infection does not mean you have developed diabetes. For most non-diabetics, these elevations are a transient response to the body’s stress and typically normalize once the infection clears. The body’s systems, including insulin production and sensitivity, usually return to their baseline function.
An infection-induced blood sugar spike can sometimes unmask an underlying predisposition to diabetes or pre-diabetes. The stress of the illness might push blood sugar levels high enough to reveal impaired glucose metabolism. After recovering from a significant infection, particularly if blood sugar levels were notably high, follow-up blood sugar checks are advisable. This monitoring helps confirm that your glucose levels have returned to their normal range and ensures any underlying conditions are identified.