Elevated blood glucose levels, known as hyperglycemia, is a condition that can affect people with diabetes or individuals with no history of the disease. Recognizing the symptoms is key to seeking appropriate treatment and avoiding complications.
Symptoms of High Blood Glucose
Excessive thirst (polydipsia): One of the first manifestations of hyperglycemia is intense and persistent thirst. This is because the kidneys try to eliminate the excess through the blood, leading to frequent excretion of urine, which leads to dehydration and an increased need for fluids.
- Frequent urination (polyuria): Increased urine production is a symptom related to polydipsia. As the body tries to get rid of excess glucose through urine, this leads to frequent trips to the toilet, especially at night.
- Persistent fatigue: Hyperglycemia can cause a constant feeling of tiredness and weakness. This is because the body is unable to use it effectively as a source of energy.
- Blurred vision: The high concentration of glucose in the blood can affect the eyes, leading to temporary blurred vision.
- Frequent infections: People with high glucose are more susceptible to infections, such as urinary tract infections, due to urine concentrated in sugar, which provides a favorable environment for bacteria to grow.
- Unintentional weight loss: Although hyperglycemia can lead to an increase in appetite, people often lose weight unintentionally. This is because the cells cannot get the glucose they need to function properly.
- Bad breath: Breath can take on a fruity or sweet smell due to the presence of ketone bodies in the breath, which occurs when the body burns fat instead of glucose for energy.
- Irritability: Unstable glucose levels can lead to mood swings, such as irritability and difficulty concentrating.
In addition, other symptoms such as nausea, headaches, poor healing, dry skin and excessive hunger may appear.
Which test should I take to find out if my glucose is high?
The glucose test itself (reference value up to 100 mg/dL) is no longer indicated to check if your glucose is high, as it is only a control marker and does not serve as a diagnosis on its own. In this sense, complementary tests such as glycated hemoglobin and glycated hemoglobin are necessary.
However, it is important to remember that it is extremely necessary to fast for 12 hours, as food can affect the results and generate a false positive.
Possible Complications of High Blood Glucose
It is important to note that hyperglycemia should not be ignored because, if not treated properly, it can lead to serious complications, such as damage to organs and blood vessels. In this sense, if you experience any of these symptoms on a recurring basis, it's essential to go to a health professional for an assessment and accurate diagnosis.
What Increases Glucose?
In principle, high glucose is caused by conditions that affect the production of insulin, which is the hormone that is able to process the sugar that is present in the body
Glucose can rise due to various factors, most of which are caused by poor eating and physical habits, as well as genetic and hereditary factors.
They are:
- Pancreatitis
- Some classes of medication
- Infections
- STROKE
- Hypercorticolism
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Diabetes mellitus or gestational diabetes
- Unbalanced and unhealthy diet
- Overweight
Treatment
To treat high blood glucose, you first need to see a doctor for advice on the best treatment.
Unfortunately, if you've already become diabetic, it's not possible to reverse the process and you'll just have to control the situation through diet, exercise, insulin or medication. However, if you are not yet diabetic, you can change the situation by exercising, eating right, avoiding sugar and alcohol, avoiding cigarettes and increasing your fiber intake.
Foods to Improve
Skimmed milk
Fish
Chicken
Olive oil
Peanuts
Chestnuts
Beans
Brown rice
Lettuce
Fresh fruit
White cheese
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