by admin-blog-kh | January 29, 2026 12:46 pm
Dysglycaemia refers to abnormal blood sugar levels, including both hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar) and hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar). Glucose is the body’s main energy source, fueling muscles, organs, and the brain. Its balance is regulated by the hormones insulin and glucagon, which keep blood sugar within a healthy range. When this regulation is disrupted, symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, cravings, irritability, and sugar crashes may occur.
Dysglycaemia often develops silently and is linked to serious health issues like diabetes[5], heart disease, and hormonal imbalances. It can be diagnosed through blood tests such as Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG), HbA1c, and the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). Conditions like pre-diabetes, where blood sugar is elevated but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis, also fall under dysglycaemia. Early detection and lifestyle changes—such as healthy eating, regular exercise, and stress management—can prevent progression and restore balance to blood sugar levels.
Glucose in the blood is the body’s main source of energy. The muscles, internal organs, nerves, brain – All the cells in the body use this glucose to function. A stable blood sugar level helps keep your energy levels stable and keeps your brain functioning efficiently. Stable blood sugar levels also contribute to keeping hunger pangs at bay, balanced hormones and reduced inflammation and oxidative stress in the cells of your body.
Dysglycemia is an umbrella term that covers abnormalities in blood sugar stability. This means that hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemias (high blood sugar) both fall within the category of “Dysglycemia”. Dysglycemia may show up in ways we don’t immediately associate with a metabolic issue – tiredness, brain fog, confusion, feeling hangry, having a sugar “crash” within an hour of eating something sweet.
Blood sugar is regulated by the hormones insulin and glucagon, which are produced in the pancreas. Glucose absorbed by the body during digestion is converted to glycogen and stored in the liver. When the blood sugar level drops, glucagon signals to the liver that it needs to convert some glycogen back into glucose and release it into the blood stream. Insulin then transports glucose in the blood into the cells, so it can be used for energy or stored. Insulin and glucagon work together to keep your blood sugar levels stable[6]. Insulin and Glucagon are released by different types of islet cells in the pancreas – Beta cells and Alpha cells respectively.
In general, it is normal for an average health person to experience slight variations in blood sugar levels through the day. The release of insulin and glucagon into the blood will keep it within a healthy range. In patients with Dysglycemia, the insulin-glucagon system doesn’t work as planned, leading to a number of problems.
Hyperglycaemia – Hyperglycaemia is a condition in which the blood sugar level is very high. Typically, a reading above 100mg/dL is considered an abnormally high blood sugar level. Above 125 mg/dL is considered diabetic. This happens when the body is not producing enough insulin or has low insulin sensitivity. Hyperglycemia doesn’t cause immediate symptoms. The person may develop frequent urination, thirst, headaches, fatigue and blurry vision, after multiple days or weeks of having high blood sugar levels. If left unaddressed, the symptoms can become more serious – Patients may experience abdominal pain, weakness, confusion, nausea or shortness of breath.
Persistent high blood sugar levels can damage internal organs. In diagnosed diabetics, hyperglycaemia can turn dangerous, leading to a complication called diabetic ketoacidosis. This can lead to a diabetic coma.
Hypoglycaemia – Hypoglycaemia is a condition in which the blood sugar level is too low[8]. Typically, readings below 70 mg/dL are considered abnormally low. A reading below 54 mg/dl is considered critical and requires immediate action. Hypoglycemia is common in people with diabetes, especially type 1 diabetes. Too much insulin or other diabetes medication in the blood can cause hypoglycaemia. Hypoglycemia has immediate symptoms – Patients may experience trembling, weakness, chills, extreme hunger, heart palpitations, dizziness, anxiety, confusion or tingling in the lips, tongue and cheeks. In severe cases, patients may have slurred speech, blurred or double vision, disorientation and even seizures.
Sometimes, people don’t have any symptoms when they have low blood sugar. This is called hypoglycaemia unawareness and is common in diabetic patients who have chronically low blood sugar. If you have hypoglycaemic unawareness, it is important to do frequent manual blood sugar tests or have a continuous glucose monitor in place[9]. Prolonged hypoglycaemia can cause multiple organ failure, cardiac arrest, permanent brain damage or death.
Pre-Diabetes – Pre-Diabetes is a condition in which the body has a high blood sugar level, but not high enough to classify as type 2 diabetes[10]. People with pre-diabetes have a fasting blood sugar level between 100-125 mg/dL. Without lifestyle changes, people diagnosed with pre-diabetes will probably develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years. However, being diagnosed with prediabetes does not mean that you will inevitably get diabetes. With a controlled diet and good exercise routine, type 2 diabetes can be prevented. Pre-diabetes doesn’t usually exhibit any clear symptoms. Patients usually discover pre-diabetes during an annual health check-up, or when they are in the hospital for another illness. One possible sign of pre-diabetes is darkening of the neck, armpits or groin.
Pre-diabetes doesn’t have a clear cause, but there is a strong correlation between pre-diabetes and family history of diabetes. Being overweight, eating a highly processed and sugary diet, inactivity and smoking are linked to pre-diabetes but further studies are required to investigate this further. Hypertension and high levels of triglycerides in the blood (“Bad” cholesterol) are also linked to pre-diabetes.
Dysglycemia is diagnosed through blood glucose tests – Both fasting and post-prandial (after a meal). The family doctor will recommend blood glucose tests if you are experiencing any of the symptoms associated with hyperglycemia or hypoglycaemia, or if you have a family history of diabetes. The following tests may be recommended:
A1C Test – The A1C test measures the average level of glucose in the blood over 3 months. Glucose tends to bond with the haemoglobin in the red blood cells, through a process called glycation. If you have higher glucose levels, more of it tends to stick to the red blood cells. This can stay for around 3 months, which is the average life of a red blood cell. The A1C test works by measuring the level of glycation, which can be approximated for over a 3 month period. The result of the test is usually a percentage. A higher percentage indicates higher blood glucose levels on average. A result of 5.7 to 6.4% is considered a pre-diabetic range. A value greater than 6.5% indicates diabetes.
Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) Test – This is the simplest and quickest way to measure blood glucose and diagnose dysglycemia. The test subject is asked to not consume any food or beverages, other than water, for at least 8 hours before the test. The patient’s blood is drawn from a vein in the arm, in the fasted state. At the lab, the plasma is separated from the blood sample and tested. A result below 99 mg/dL is considered normal. The FPG test is considered accurate and more sensitive than the A1C test. However, the OGTT test is superior to the FPG, making it the gold standard of glucose level testing.
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) – The OGTT is the most accurate test for diabetes, and is often recommended to diagnose patients with dysglycemia. The aim of the test is to find out how the body handles incoming glucose after a meal. The patient undergoing testing will be asked to fast for at least 8 hours before the test. The clinic will perform a blood draw from a vein in your arm, for testing. After this, the patient will be given a syrupy glucose solution with 75 grams of sugar. After consuming the syrup, the patient will undergo two more blood draws, at one hour and two hours after eating respectively. Most pregnant women are also screened for gestational diabetes with a version of the OGTT[12].
In addition to these tests, the family doctor may also require a urine sample to check for sugar or ketones[13]. Based on these investigations, the doctor will be able to diagnose the type of dysglycemia and create an appropriate treatment plan.
If you’re experiencing unexplained fatigue, sugar crashes, or irregular blood sugar readings, early evaluation is key. Kauvery Hospital, with branches in Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli, and Trichy, offers comprehensive testing, expert consultation, and personalised care to help diagnose dysglycaemia early and restore healthy glucose balance[14].
What is Dysglycaemia in simple terms?
Dysglycaemia means your blood sugar levels are not stable. They may be too high or too low, affecting energy, mood and overall health.
Is dysglycaemia the same as diabetes?
No. Dysglycaemia includes pre-diabetes, high blood sugar and low blood sugar. Diabetes is one condition within this spectrum.
How is dysglycaemia diagnosed?
Doctors diagnose dysglycaemia using blood tests like fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, and oral glucose tolerance tests.
Can dysglycaemia be reversed?
Yes, in many cases. Healthy eating, regular exercise, stress control and early medical care can restore blood sugar balance.
What are the early signs of dysglycaemia?
Early signs of dysglycaemia include frequent fatigue, brain fog, sudden sugar cravings, dizziness, irritability, and energy crashes after meals.
Which test best detects dysglycaemia early?
The oral glucose tolerance test and HbA1c test are commonly used to detect dysglycaemia early and assess blood sugar patterns over time.
Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai (Alwarpet, Radial Road & Vadapalani), Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and paediatric trauma care.
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