hyperglycaemia

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hyperglycaemia An abnormally high concentration of glucose in the blood, most commonly due to diabetes mellitus, when the normal regulatory action of insulin is missing — either because it is not being adequately secreted from the pancreas, or because its function — of promoting removal of glucose from the blood into body tissues for utilization or storage — is compromised. When blood glucose concentration is normal, the kidneys retain it all, but in hyperglycaemia the glucose ‘overflows’ into the urine.

Stuart Judge


See blood sugar; insulin.

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