When your sugar is high, a condition known as hyperglycemia, you generally feel unwell, often tired, and experience a range of specific physical symptoms as your body struggles to cope with the excess glucose in your bloodstream.
Understanding Hyperglycemia
Hyperglycemia occurs when there's too much sugar (glucose) in your blood. This happens when your body either doesn't produce enough insulin, can't use insulin effectively, or a combination of both. Insulin is a hormone that helps glucose enter your cells for energy. Without enough effective insulin, glucose builds up in the blood.
Common Early Warning Signs
The early stages of high blood sugar often present with noticeable symptoms as your body tries to normalize its glucose levels. Recognizing these signs can be crucial for timely intervention.
Here are the key early symptoms you might experience:
- Increased Thirst (Polydipsia): You might feel unusually thirsty, leading you to drink more fluids than usual. This happens because your kidneys try to flush out the excess sugar through urine, pulling fluid from your tissues.
- Frequent Urination (Peeing): As your kidneys work overtime to eliminate excess glucose, you'll find yourself needing to urinate much more often, even waking up at night to do so. This is directly related to the increased thirst.
- Headache: A persistent headache is another common early indicator of elevated blood sugar levels.
- Increased Hunger: Despite eating, you might feel unusually hungry. This is because glucose isn't effectively entering your cells for energy, signaling to your body that it needs more fuel.
Beyond these early indicators, other common symptoms of hyperglycemia can include:
- Fatigue or Tiredness: Even if you're getting enough sleep, high blood sugar can leave you feeling drained and lethargic.
- Blurred Vision: High blood sugar can cause the lens of your eye to swell, leading to temporary blurred vision.
- Dry Mouth: Due to increased fluid loss from frequent urination.
- Slow-Healing Sores or Cuts: Elevated blood sugar can impair the body's healing processes.
- Skin Infections or Itching: High blood sugar can make you more prone to skin issues.
Why These Symptoms Occur
The symptoms of high blood sugar are your body's way of reacting to and trying to correct the imbalance:
- Thirst and Urination: Your kidneys attempt to get rid of the excess glucose by filtering it out of your blood and expelling it through urine. This process requires water, leading to dehydration and increased thirst.
- Fatigue: Without adequate insulin, glucose can't enter your cells to be converted into energy, leaving your cells starved for fuel, resulting in a feeling of exhaustion.
- Blurred Vision: High glucose levels can cause fluid shifts in the eyes, temporarily changing the shape of the lens and affecting your ability to focus clearly.
When to Seek Medical Attention
It's important to consult a healthcare professional if you experience persistent symptoms of high blood sugar. Ignoring these signs can lead to more severe complications.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Persistent blood sugar readings above your target range.
- Signs of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), such as fruity-smelling breath, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, confusion, and abdominal pain. DKA is a serious complication that requires emergency care.
Managing High Blood Sugar
Managing high blood sugar typically involves a combination of strategies tailored to your individual needs, often including:
- Following a balanced diet with controlled carbohydrate intake.
- Engaging in regular physical activity.
- Taking prescribed medications or insulin as directed by your doctor.
- Regularly monitoring your blood glucose levels.
For more detailed information on symptoms and treatment, you can refer to resources like the Cleveland Clinic's guide on Hyperglycemia (High Blood Sugar): Hyperglycemia (High Blood Sugar): Symptoms & Treatment.
