High blood sugar or Hyperglycemia occurs when too much glucose is in your blood and it’s also known as high blood glucose. This happens when your body doesn’t have enough insulin (a hormone) or can’t use insulin properly (insulin resistance). Most of the time, hyperglycemia indicates that you have diabetes, and if you have diabetes, you might have hyperglycemia often. More: Comprehensive guide to cervix biopsy aftercare
Don’t use the language of ‘good’ or ‘bad’ when talking about blood sugar numbers – these are data points, not judgments of your ability to manage your diabetes.
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If you don’t treat hyperglycemia long, it can harm your nerves, blood vessels, tissues, and organs.
Severe hyperglycemia can lead to a sudden and severe life-threatening problem called diabetes-related ketoacidosis (DKA), especially if you have diabetes and take insulin or if you have undiagnosed Type 1 diabetes. This needs immediate medical attention. More: What is vaginal discharge?
Here are 10 signs you might have high blood sugar
Physical symptoms
- If your cuts and bruises are taking longer to heal, it could be because your blood sugar levels are too high. This affects the nerves and can make it hard for blood, which is needed for skin repair, to reach the wounded area.
- Some infections keep coming back and need to be watched closely. Problems with the thyroid, adrenal, and pituitary glands can cause this, along with diseases in the pancreas and a big increase in blood sugar.
- High blood sugar levels can slow down the emptying of food from your stomach. This might make you feel bloated, have stomach pain, or even vomit.
- Having too much belly fat is a common sign of this problem. When food can’t get into your cells to give them energy, you feel hungry again, even after eating. More: 10 superfoods for over 40
- Discoloration and growth on your skin could mean your sugar levels in your blood is too high. You might also notice dark, thick areas of skin forming on your neck and hands.
- When your blood and saliva have high levels of glucose due to elevated blood sugar, it leads to dryness in your mouth.
Behavioral and metabolic symptoms
- If your thyroid level is low, you might feel tired, sleepy, or sad. Fighting infections takes energy, which can lead to feeling tired all the time and having high blood sugar levels. More: How to sleep better? Try these tips
- If you’re always hungry, it might be because you lack a hormone called incretin. This hormone helps control sugar levels after eating. Without enough of it, food empties from your stomach too quickly, and you get hungry again soon after eating, which can raise your sugar in the blood. More: 6 Tips for best baked sweet potatoes
- When your body lacks insulin, it can’t move glucose from your blood into your cells, which affects how well your body works. This can make you feel tired and unable to concentrate properly. High blood sugar levels can also dehydrate you because your body tries to get rid of extra glucose by making you pee more.
- This state can damage the blood vessels that bring oxygen and nutrients to your nerves, causing nerve problems. More: How to stop the anxiety cycle?
Treating high blood sugar
If you use insulin to control diabetes, injecting insulin is the main way to deal with high blood sugar episodes. Each person needs a different amount of insulin. You and your doctor will figure out the right dose for you to prevent and treat this state. Eating healthier and exercising can also help control your sugar levels and avoid high levels.
People with Type 2 diabetes don’t need insulin shots. They need to change their lifestyle by eating better and exercising. They should take oral diabetes pills, which can help manage high the state. You and your doctor will decide on the best plan for you.
Source: Cleveland Clinic
