Refers to a condition characterised by an excess of glucose in the bloodstream. It may occur in a variety of diseases, most notably in diabetes mellitus due to insufficient insulin in the blood and excessive intake of carbohydrates.

The term "hyperglycaemia" is derived from the Greek hyper (high) + glykys (sweet/sugar) + haima (blood). Hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar) is where the level of sugar in your blood is too high. Hyperglycaemia is blood glucose greater than 125 mg/dL while fasting and greater than 180 mg/dL 2 hours postprandial. A patient has impaired glucose tolerance, or pre-diabetes, with a fasting plasma glucose of 100 mg/dL to 125 mg/dL.

When hyperglycaemia is left untreated, it can lead to many serious life-threatening complications that include damage to the eye, kidneys, nerves, heart, and peripheral vascular system. Thus, it is vital to manage hyperglycaemia effectively and efficiently to prevent complications of the disease and improve patient outcomes.

Unit 1,

Reference: Oxford Concise Colour Medical Dictionary (7th Edition, Kindle Edition) Oxford University Press 2020 ISBN-13: 978-0198836629, p1649 

Reference: Mouri M, Badireddy M. Hyperglycaemia. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; April 24, 2023.