Maintaining normal blood sugar levels is crucial for good health. When blood sugar levels are too high, it can lead to various health complications like diabetes, heart disease, and kidney damage. Therefore, it’s essential to keep a watchful eye on your blood sugar levels and take action if they start to rise. Here are 14 signs that may indicate that your blood sugar is very high:
- Increased thirst: One of the earliest signs of high blood sugar is increased thirst. When blood sugar levels are high, your kidneys try to get rid of the excess sugar by flushing it out through urine. This can lead to dehydration, causing you to feel thirsty more often.
- Frequent urination: As mentioned earlier, high blood sugar levels force your kidneys to work harder, leading to frequent urination. This can be especially bothersome at night and can disrupt your sleep.
- Dry mouth and skin: High blood sugar levels can also lead to dry mouth and skin, making you feel uncomfortable and itchy.
- Blurred vision: High blood sugar levels can cause your eye lenses to swell, leading to blurry vision. If left untreated, this can eventually lead to permanent eye damage.
- Fatigue: When your blood sugar levels are high, your body struggles to convert glucose into energy, leading to fatigue and lethargy.
- Numbness and tingling: High blood sugar levels can cause nerve damage, leading to numbness and tingling sensations in your hands and feet.
- Slow healing: High blood sugar levels can impair your body’s ability to heal wounds, making it harder for injuries to heal and increasing the risk of infections.
- Recurrent infections: High blood sugar levels can weaken your immune system, making you more susceptible to infections, especially those of the skin, urinary tract, and mouth.
- Unexplained weight loss: If your blood sugar levels are very high, your body may start breaking down fat and muscle tissue to produce energy, leading to unexplained weight loss.
- Increased appetite: High blood sugar levels can also make you feel hungry more often, leading to overeating and weight gain.
- Mood swings: High blood sugar levels can affect your mood, making you feel irritable, anxious, or depressed.
- Fruity-smelling breath: When your blood sugar levels are very high, your body may start breaking down fat for energy, leading to the production of ketones. This can cause your breath to have a fruity or sweet smell.
- Headaches: High blood sugar levels can also cause headaches and migraines, making it difficult to concentrate and focus.
- Erectile dysfunction: High blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels and nerves responsible for erections, leading to erectile dysfunction in men.
If you experience any of these signs, it’s crucial to get your blood sugar levels checked by a healthcare professional. A simple blood test can diagnose high blood sugar levels, and with the right treatment and lifestyle changes, you can manage your blood sugar levels and prevent further complications.
