High blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, is something many people living with diabetes deal with. But even if you don’t have diabetes, there may be times when your sugar levels shoot up due to stress, illness, or certain foods.
Understanding the symptoms early on can help you take timely action and prevent complications. So let’s break it down in a way that’s easy to follow.
Firstly, let’s understand – What is Hyperglycemia?
Hyperglycemia means there’s too much sugar (glucose) in your blood. This happens when your body doesn’t have enough insulin (a hormone that helps move sugar from your blood into your cells) or when your body isn’t using insulin properly, which often happens in diabetes mellitus.
Symptoms of Hyperglycemia
Symptoms can range from mild to severe and develop gradually.
Early Symptoms:
These symptoms are often the body’s first way of signalling that something’s off. They may appear gradually and can easily be mistaken for day-to-day tiredness or dehydration.
1. Increased thirst (polydipsia)
You might feel like drinking water constantly, even in cooler weather. This can be one of the first signs of high sugar levels. The body tries to flush out the excess sugar by pulling water from your tissues, which can leave you feeling dehydrated.
2. Frequent urination (polyuria)
Are you rushing to the bathroom more often than usual, especially at night? High sugar levels force your kidneys to work overtime, leading to more urine output.
3. Increased hunger (polyphagia)
Feeling unusually hungry all the time, even after eating a full meal? That could be more than just a big appetite. When blood sugar is high, your body can’t use glucose properly for energy. So, it keeps signalling hunger, even if you’ve just eaten, because the energy from food isn’t reaching your cells.
4. Tiredness or fatigue
Feeling low on energy even after eating? When sugar stays in your blood instead of reaching your cells, your body can’t use it properly for energy, making you feel drained.
5. Blurry vision
When blood sugar levels rise, it can temporarily affect your eyesight. High blood sugar can pull fluid from your eye lenses, affecting your vision. If your vision keeps going in and out of focus, it’s worth checking your sugar levels.
6. Headaches
Mild to moderate headaches can occur due to fluctuating sugar levels. These can be easy to overlook, but if they happen often, it’s worth paying attention.
7. Trouble concentrating
If you find it hard to focus or feel mentally foggy, it might not just be a busy day—it could be a sign that your blood sugar is on the higher side.
8. Weight loss
Unexplained weight loss, without any diet or exercise changes, can sometimes be a sign that your body isn’t using glucose properly and is instead breaking down fat and muscle for energy.
Later Symptoms:
If high sugar levels go unchecked, they can slowly begin to affect different parts of the body. These changes may not happen overnight, but they can become more serious if ignored.
1. Slow-healing wounds
If small injuries, cuts or wounds take longer to heal, it might be due to high blood sugar affecting your blood circulation and delaying the body’s natural healing ability.
2. Frequent Skin Infections
People may experience recurring fungal or bacterial infections, especially in warm, humid areas. This is because sugar creates a breeding ground for germs.
3. Tingling or numbness in hands and feet
Known as diabetic neuropathy, this is a common long-term effect of high blood sugar. It might start as a mild tingling and can get worse if left unchecked.
4. Eye damage (worsened vision)
Beyond just blurry vision, long-term high blood sugar can lead to damage in the small blood vessels of the eyes, something that should be screened regularly in people with diabetes.
5. Kidney damage
The kidneys filter out waste, but consistently high sugar levels can wear them down over time, leading to issues that might not show up until much later.
Sometimes, high blood sugar levels can quietly rise over time without causing obvious early symptoms. In fact, many people may not notice the early signs at all, or may brush them off as everyday tiredness or stress.
In such cases, the first noticeable symptoms might actually be the later ones, like slow-healing wounds, frequent infections, or numbness in the feet. That’s why regular health check-ups and blood sugar monitoring are so important, especially if you have a family history of diabetes or other risk factors.
Severe Symptoms (Diabetic Ketoacidosis):
In some cases, very high sugar levels can lead to a serious and potentially life-threatening condition called Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). It happens when the body starts breaking down fat for energy due to a lack of insulin, leading to the build-up of harmful acids called ketones. DKA is more common in people with type 1 diabetes, but it can also occur in those with type 2 diabetes, especially during times of stress, infection, or if insulin is missed for any reason.
Here are some signs that may suggest DKA and need immediate medical attention:
- Fruity-smelling breath
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Rapid heartbeat
- Confusion or fainting
- Shortness of breath
DKA requires urgent treatment and hospital care, so if you or someone you know shows these symptoms, it’s best not to wait; seek help immediately.
What Can You Do?
Monitoring your sugar levels regularly, especially if you’re at risk or already have diabetes, can make a big difference. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Watch out for recurring symptoms
- Keep a glucometer handy if you’ve been advised to monitor at home
- Speak to a doctor if symptoms persist or worsen
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle with regular meals, movement, and hydration
When To See A Doctor?
If you’re noticing any symptoms or if your blood sugar readings are consistently higher than normal, it’s always better to consult a doctor.
Even if the symptoms seem mild, getting checked early can help avoid complications. A doctor can guide you with the right tests, treatment, and lifestyle advice based on your individual needs.
How We At Fitterfly Can Help?
Managing high blood sugar is more than just taking medicines—it’s about making the right lifestyle changes, step by step. That’s where the Fitterfly Diabetes Program comes in. It combines expert guidance from doctors, dietitians, and physiotherapists to offer a holistic, personalised approach.
Everything is customised just for you, from meal plans tailored to your food preferences and sugar levels, to fitness routines that improve your body’s insulin response. You also get stress management support, activity tracking, and real-time feedback to help you make better choices every day.
Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have been living with diabetes for a while, the Fitterfly Program helps you take charge of your health, one step at a time.
Give a missed call at 08069450746 to know more and get exciting offers.
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