What term describes an excess of sugar in the blood?

• A. Hypoglycemia
• B. Normoglycemia
• C. Hyperlipidemia
• D. Hyperglycemia

Answer: (D)

Excess sugar in the bloodstream is called hyperglycemia. It means blood glucose levels are higher than normal, which can happen when the body doesn’t use insulin properly, doesn’t have enough insulin, or when glucose production by the liver is increased. This is different from hypoglycemia, which is too little sugar in the blood, and normoglycemia, which is a normal range of blood glucose. Hyperlipidemia refers to high levels of fats (lipids) in the blood, not sugars, so it isn’t related to the amount of glucose in the blood. Persistent hyperglycemia is a key feature of diabetes and can lead to various complications if not managed.