Maintaining optimal blood glucose levels is vital for overall health, especially for individuals with diabetes or those at risk of developing it. Elevated blood sugar, also known as hyperglycemia, can have harmful effects on your body over time, even if the symptoms may not be immediately noticeable. In this article, we explore five crucial signs that your blood glucose levels may be higher than they should be, helping you identify possible health concerns early.
1. Increased Thirst and Frequent Urination
One of the earliest and most common signs of high blood glucose levels is an unquenchable thirst, medically referred to as polydipsia, and a related increase in frequent urination, or polyuria.
When your blood sugar levels rise, your kidneys work harder to filter and absorb the excess glucose. When they can no longer keep up, the glucose spills into your urine, pulling water along with it. TAs a result, bathroom visits increase in frequency. As a result, your body becomes dehydrated, and you experience persistent thirst. If you find yourself drinking more water than usual but still feeling parched, it could be a sign that your blood sugar is higher than normal.
Why It Happens:
Urine is the means via which the kidneys try to eliminate extra glucose. The more glucose that spills into the urine, the more water your body loses, leading to dehydration and excessive thirst.
2. Fatigue and Low Energy Levels
Unexplained fatigue and low energy levels are often linked to high blood glucose. Your body relies on glucose as its primary source of energy. However, when glucose levels in your bloodstream are elevated, it disrupts the ability of your cells to absorb this glucose efficiently. Without access to the necessary fuel, your cells can’t produce energy properly, leading to chronic feelings of tiredness and exhaustion.
People with elevated blood sugar often report that they feel exhausted even after getting enough rest. If you constantly feel drained and lack the energy to go about your daily activities, it may be due to high blood sugar impairing your body’s ability to function optimally.
Why It Happens:
High blood glucose impairs insulin’s ability to help glucose enter cells for energy production. As a result, your muscles and tissues don’t receive enough energy, leading to fatigue.
3. Blurred Vision
Blurred vision can be a warning sign that your blood glucose levels are too high. High blood sugar can cause the lens of your eye to swell, affecting your ability to see clearly. Your blood sugar control may determine how long this blurriness lasts. If left unchecked for an extended period, high blood glucose can lead to more permanent vision problems, including diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of blindness.
People who experience sudden or recurring episodes of blurred vision should monitor their blood sugar closely, as this symptom may indicate fluctuating or chronically elevated glucose levels.
Why It Happens:
When blood sugar is elevated, it alters the shape of the eye’s lens, affecting your vision. Persistent high glucose levels can damage blood vessels in the retina, leading to more severe complications.
