Increased blood glucose levels, known as hyperglucemia, is a condition that can affect people with diabetes or even individuals with no history of the disease. Recognizing the symptoms of high blood glucose is essential in order to seek appropriate treatment and avoid complications.
High blood sugar symptoms:
- Excessive sedation (polydipsia): One of the first signs of hyperglucemia is an intense and persistent thirst. This occurs because the kidneys try to eliminate the excess glucose in the blood, which leads to frequent excretion of urine and, as a result, dehydration and an increased need for fluids.
- Frequent urination (polyuria): Increased urine production is a symptom related to polydipsia. As the body tries to eliminate excess glucose through urine, this leads to frequent visits to the bathroom, especially during the night.
- Persistent fatigue: Hyperglucemia can cause a constant feeling of tiredness and weakness. This is because the body cannot effectively use glucose as a source of energy.
- Blurred vision: The high concentration of glucose in the blood can affect the eyes, causing blurred or temporarily cloudy vision.
- Frequent infections: People with high blood sugar are more susceptible to infections, such as urinary tract infections, due to the concentration of sugar in the urine, which provides a favorable environment for the growth of bacteria.
- Unintentional weight loss: Although hyperglucemia can increase appetite, people often lose weight unintentionally. This is because the cells cannot obtain the glucose they need to function properly.
- Barely there: Breathing can acquire a fruity or sweet smell due to the presence of ketone bodies in the breath, which are produced when the body burns fat instead of glucose to obtain energy.
- Irritability: Unstable glucose levels can lead to changes in mood, such as irritability and difficulty concentrating.
In addition, other symptoms such as nausea, headache, poor healing, dry skin and increased appetite may appear.
What test should I take to find out if my blood sugar is high?
The glucose test itself (reference value up to 100 mg/dL) is no longer recommended to check if your glucose is high, as it is only a control marker and is not sufficient for diagnosis on its own. In this sense, it is necessary to carry out complementary tests such as hemoglobin A1c and glucose.
It is important to remember the extreme need to take a proper 12-hour meal, since food can affect the results and give rise to false positives.
Possible complications of high blood sugar:
It is important to emphasize that hyperglucemia should not be ignored, because if it is not treated properly, it can lead to serious complications, such as damage to organs and blood vessels. If you experience any of these symptoms recurrently, it is essential to consult a health professional for an accurate assessment and diagnosis.
What increases glucose?
Initially, high blood sugar is caused by conditions that affect the production of insulin, which is the hormone responsible for processing sugar in the body. Blood sugar can increase due to various factors, most of which are caused by poor eating and physical habits, as well as genetic and hereditary factors. Some of these factors include:
- Pancreatitis
- Some types of medication
- Infections
- Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)
- Hypercortisolism
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Diabetes mellitus or gestational diabetes
- Unbalanced and uncontrolled diet
- Overweight
Treatment of high blood sugar:
To treat high blood glucose, you must first consult a doctor to find the best treatment. Unfortunately, if you have already developed diabetes, it is not possible to reverse the process and you can only control the situation through changes in diet, exercise, insulin or medication. However, if you don't have diabetes yet, you can improve the situation by exercising, following a proper diet, avoiding the consumption of sugar and alcohol, quitting smoking and increasing your fiber intake.
Foods to improve blood sugar:
- Skimmed milk
- Fish
- Pollo
- Olive oil
- Maní
- Nueces
- Frijoles
- Brown rice
- Lechuga
- Fresh fruit
- Queso blanco
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