If you have diabetes, you already know the measures to avoid high blood sugar. However, many individuals have pre-diabetes, meaning their blood sugar is elevated but they are unaware of it. Furthermore, 21% of persons with diabetes do not realize they have the condition.
High blood sugar can affect anybody, even those who do not have diabetes or have low-risk factors. However, when it is a diabetic patient, it is more worrisome. That’s because uncontrolled high blood sugar might lead to fatal consequences including a diabetic coma.
What Is Considered High Blood Sugar?
High blood sugar, also known as hyperglycemia, is very easy to detect. Blood glucose (sugar) is measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), and this figure is considered high when it’s above a fasting blood sugar of 125-mg/dL, according to Self.
Hyperglycemia, which is characterized by elevated blood sugar levels above 180 mg/dL an hour after eating, can also develop if you have a health problem that affects the hormone that controls blood glucose. “Our bodies are typically pretty good at keeping our blood sugar in perfect balance,” according to the source.
There are several signs that can indicate high blood sugar levels, so it’s important to be aware of them. As the following pages will show, serious health complications can ensue if you ignore these signs.
1. Frequent Urination
It’s possible you shouldn’t have had that third cup of coffee, and now you’re going to the restroom several times. Frequent urination is a “notable yet not-common” symptom that your blood sugar levels are rapidly rising, according to Everyday Health.
Because your kidneys strain more to remove excess glucose, there’s simply too much of it in your circulation. This is because your kidneys become unable to filter the excessive sugar from your circulation as they strain. Dehydration and other issues can occur as a result of this, so keep an eye out for any of these symptoms.
2. You’re Feeling Unusually Fatigued
You’d believe having a lot of sugar coursing through your veins would give you a boost of energy, but the exact opposite is true. Self says that “feeling weary” is frequently the first indication of high blood sugar – and it can happen in people who don’t have diabetes.
After eating, many diseases may make you feel more worn out than usual, but sugar tiredness may strike soon after. If you frequently end up searching for a pillow to lay your head on after eating, have your doctor check it out.
3. Unexplained Weight Loss
Unexplained weight loss, according to Diabetes.co.uk, is an indication of high blood sugar that might be linked to a variety of illnesses, including depression and tuberculosis. nHowever, because the hormone that controls sugar isn’t working properly in this case, glucose isn’t able to enter the cells via the bloodstream and provide energy.
In this case, the source explains that after the body burns fat and muscle for energy sources, you may experience a significant weight loss. At the same time, your appetite may have increased. If you’ve lost more than 5 percent of your body weight – or more than 10 pounds – in around 6 to 12 months by accident, see a doctor.
4. Vision Problems
According to Everyday Health, your eyes may be a window into your blood sugar condition. The source claims that if you’re having problems with high blood sugars, “You may notice that your vision isn’t as clear as it used to be and that things appear blurry.”
The reason for this is that high blood glucose (sugar) might cause the eye’s lenses to get swollen due to fluid seeping in. This shifts the lens’s shape and causes it to lose focus somewhat. Headaches may also accompany the blurring. These indications might point to the need of new glass, but it’s still worth noting.
5. Slow Healing Wounds
High blood sugar (sugar) can manifest itself in a variety of ways, including recurring infections and slow-healing wounds. The first is known as “consistent hyperglycemia,” which inhibits your immune system and makes it more difficult to fight off bacterial infections.
The former can be attributed to the damage your circulatory system has suffered from high blood sugar, according to the source. The condition can decrease blood flow, which affects the healing process. Circulation has been hampered if sores on your feet linger.
6. Oral Health Problems
The body’s natural mentality is that if you have oral problems such as tooth decay, gum disease, or even bad breath, it could be a symptom of your blood sugar being too high. One of the first indicators of bleeding gums, according to the source.
Saliva contains glucose, which encourages the growth of harmful bacteria. When there is too much glucose in the mix, it promotes the development of disease-causing germs, as well as food residue.
7. You Feel Tingling in Your Extremities
Occasionally, you may feel “pins and needles” in your skin or even numbness if you’ve been sitting for a while. It usually goes away rather quickly. Meanwhile, tingling and numbness in the hands and feet can be indications that your blood sugar is too high.
This is a symptom of diabetic neuropathy, which is caused by nerve damage. Some patients report experiencing actual pain in addition to the tingling. It’s typically a long-term diabetes sign, but it can also occur if your diabetes isn’t being properly controlled.
8. Excessive Thirst
One of the earliest diabetes warning signs is increased thirst. You might feel more thirsty than usual, and you may need to urinate more often. These are caused by too much sugar (glucose) in your blood.When you have diabetes, your body can’t process sugars from food correctly. This causes a build-up of sugar in your blood.
If you find yourself urinating more frequently than normal, it is likely your body’s way of telling you that it needs more water to prevent dehydration. However, if this symptom is accompanied by others, it would be wise to visit a doctor for a proper diagnosis.
9. Difficulty Concentrating
Brain function can also be impaired by hyperglycemia, which can cause difficulties with concentrating, processing information and memory. Brain function may also deteriorate, causing changes in mood. These signs occur because the brain cannot access adequate amounts of glucose. However, with all the sugar in the bloodstream, why would this happen?
Body cells, including neurons, need to pass through the cell walls in order to metabolize glucose. Insulin is responsible for carrying glucose into cells. If there is not enough glucose in the blood or if the cells are resistant to insulin, little glucose gets into the cells. With little glucose, brain cells cannot produce enough energy to function properly.
10. Increased Hunger
If you’re regularly feeling hungry even when you know you shouldn’t be, it could be a sign of high blood sugar levels. This is because the body responds to reduced intracellular glucose levels by releasing hunger signals. If this happens frequently, it may be an indication that diabetes is present.
When there is too much glucose in the blood, and not enough insulin to convert it, the sugar cannot enter cells. And because cells need glucose for energy production, they have no way of powering themselves without it.
