Symptoms of High Blood Sugar Levels vary from one individual to the other. High blood sugar (also referred to as hyperglycemia), normally occurs when the blood contains too much sugar.
This is a result of the production of too little insulin. Insulin is the hormone used in the transportation of sugar/glucose into the blood. High blood sugar also occurs when there are little amounts of glucose in the blood. Symptoms of high blood sugar levels should be taken care of as soon as they appear. It often leads to the development of diabetes if it persists and remains untreated.
The blood sugar level is determined by taking a test after fasting for about eight hours. If you have a blood sugar level of above 125 mg/dL, you have high blood sugar. That counts as Symptoms of high blood sugar levels. A consistent fasting blood sugar level of above 125 mg/dL is diagnosed as diabetes. A fasting blood sugar level of between 100 to 125 mg/dL is termed impaired glucose tolerance. This is often referred to as pre-diabetes
If your symptoms of high blood sugar levels remain untreated for a long time, this can result in damage to your blood vessels, nerves, tissues, and organs. If your blood vessels are damaged, you are exposed to a higher risk of getting a heart attack and stroke. Damage to your nerves could further lead to damage to organs such as your eyes, and kidneys and cause wounds that take longer to heal and sometimes never heal.
The early symptoms of high blood sugar levels include:
High levels of blood sugar when tested.
Feelings of too much thirst or hunger.
Your vision becomes blurry.
You urinate (pee) frequently.
Severe and persistent headache.
If you experience these symptoms of high blood sugar levels, seek medical advice.
There are additional symptoms that include:
Fatigue (feeling tired and weak).
Rapid loss of weight.
Skin and vaginal infections.
Slow-healing and even non-healing cuts and sores.
Knowing the symptoms of high blood sugar is particularly important for type 1 diabetic patients. This is because if high blood sugar is left untreated for people with type 1 diabetes, it develops into ketoacidosis. This is a condition that causes the build-up of ketones which are toxic acids in the blood. It often leads to a coma and can be fatal if it is prolonged.
The symptoms of ketoacidosis include:
Vomiting.
Dehydration as a result of the vomiting.
An unusual fruity smell on the patient’s breath.
Hyperventilation or deep and labored breathing.
Increased heart rate.
The patient is confused and disoriented
The patient falls into a coma.
How then can you manage high blood sugar?
Once the Symptoms of high blood sugar levels are identified, it is recommended to control them. This can be achieved by eating a healthy and balanced diet, being more active, and managing your stressors. Managing your insulin levels using medication or even insulin intake for type I and 2 diabetes is important in regulating high blood sugar levels.
Prevention of high blood sugar
Exercising regularly to help lower your blood sugar. You are encouraged to work out at least three times a week for about thirty minutes. These sessions can range from working out in the gym to simply walking or skipping rope in the comfort of your home. However, you need to ensure that you seek the advice of a healthcare provider in coming up with your daily activity plan.
Keenly follow your meal plan if you decide to have one. It is of great importance to learn exactly how the carbohydrates you take impact your blood sugar, and how much of the other food groups you need to take to ensure that you do not have too high or too low blood sugar. You can seek the help of a nutritionist in coming up with the best meal plan suited for your needs.
Shedding off the extra weight if you are obese and ensuring that you keep a healthy weight.
Avoid smoking and taking other drugs that will affect your blood sugar levels
Limit your alcohol intake.
