Nearly one out of every seven adults in the United States suffers from high blood sugar and may not even know it. But there’s a telltale sign that can easily be missed.
High blood sugar, also called hyperglycemia, is when the amount of sugar in your blood exceeds the amount your body is able to use for energy. If high blood sugar is left untreated, it can lead to serious complications or even death. Most people don’t experience any symptoms of hyperglycemia until their blood sugar is significantly elevated, and those early symptoms may often be ignored, especially if you don’t know what to look for.
We consulted with endocrinologists to understand the early symptoms of high blood sugar, complications of untreated hyperglycemia and lifestyle factors that improve glycemic control.
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The Silent Symptom of High Blood Sugar You Should Never Ignore
High blood sugar causes some fairly common symptoms that many people may brush off as a side effect of a hectic schedule, stress or lack of sleep, or they may go unnoticed entirely. But there’s one symptom endocrinologists say you should never ignore, and that’s excessive thirst.
High blood sugar levels cause your kidneys to work harder to flush out the extra sugar from your bloodstream. This, in turn, causes increased urination and potential dehydration. Once you are dehydrated, thirst sets in. “It’s actually one of the most common early signs we see when someone’s blood sugar is running high,” says Dr. Samar Singh, MD, endocrinologist at City of Hope Orange County.
Dr. Yoon Kook Kim, MD, endocrinologist at University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center, says, “Often, this can lead to a vicious cycle of drinking more sugary beverages, such as juice or soda, which can further worsen the high blood sugar levels and lead to even more dehydration.”
These experts caution that if you are experiencing increased thirst, especially if it’s accompanied by an increase in urine output, you should make an appointment with your healthcare provider.
“A simple blood test can check for elevated glucose levels and help catch diabetes or prediabetes early—when it’s most manageable,” Dr. Singh notes, adding, “For people already living with diabetes, excessive thirst may mean your blood sugar is running high, so it’s important to check your glucose levels, review your medications or insulin regimen and speak with your doctor if the symptoms persist.”
Other Symptoms of High Blood Sugar
Along with thirst, other early warning signs of high blood sugar include increased urination, hunger, headaches and blurred vision. If high blood sugar persists, you may develop additional symptoms such as fatigue, poor wound healing and weight loss. “These symptoms can develop gradually and are sometimes mistaken for other issues, so it’s important to pay attention,” Singh states.
Related: This Is the Early Type 2 Diabetes Sign That’s Missed the Most Often, According to an Endocrinologist
Complications
If left untreated, high blood sugar can lead to an array of more serious health problems. In the short term, extremely high blood sugar disrupts your blood pH level known as diabetic ketoacidosis. This is a potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention.
Long-term consequences of hyperglycemia include damage to blood vessels and nerves, which may result in the following:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Kidney disease
- Poor wound healing
- Vision loss
Related: The #1 Early Sign of Prediabetes Most People Miss, According to an Endocrinologist
Lifestyle Factors To Reduce Your Risk
The good news is that blood sugar is highly responsive to certain lifestyle factors like diet and exercise. Dr. Kim tells Parade that maintaining a healthy lifestyle significantly reduces your chance of developing diabetes.
Here’s how to do that:
- Eat a balanced diet with lots of fruits and veggies, while limiting refined carbohydrates, excess added sugars, saturated fats, sodium and sugary beverages. Research shows that up to 80% of diabetes cases may be preventable through healthy dietary habits.
- Participate in both aerobic and strength training exercises to help achieve a healthy body weight and muscle tone. Meeting physical activity guidelines as well as weight loss both significantly reduce the incidence of diabetes.
- Limit alcohol which may affect glucose metabolism and inflammation.
- If you’re a smoker, try to quit, or at least reduce your tobacco use. Smokers are 30-40% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
“Even modest changes like walking after meals or cutting back on sugary beverages can have a significant impact on blood sugar control and overall metabolic health,” Singh adds.
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Sources:
- Dr. Yoon Kook Kim, MD, endocrinologist at the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center.
- Dr. Samar Singh, MD, endocrinologist at City of Hope Orange County.
- Hyperglycemia, Cleveland Clinic.
- Diabetic Ketoacidosis, Mayo Clinic.
- Diabetes Complications, American Diabetes Association.
- Insulinemic potential of diet and the risk of type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis and systematic review, Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome.
- Diabetes and alcohol, Mount Sinai.
- Smoking and diabetes, Centers for Disease Control.
- The Role of Exercise in Diabetes, National Institute of Health.