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High blood sugar levels, or hyperglycemia, is a condition that affects people with diabetes the most. “The simplest way to avoid hyperglycemia is to manage your diabetes,” says Amy Hess-Fischl. “Remember that there are several components of your diabetes treatment that you can influence.” Here are five symptoms of high blood sugar.
1 — Heavy Thirst
Symptoms of hyperglycemia, such as a thirst and hunger, are typical. “No matter how much water you drink, it will still feel like you’re dehydrated,” says Amy Hess-Fischl and Lisa M. Leontis. “Your body draws fluid from the tissues in order to dilute the blood and combat high glucose levels, resulting in dehydration of your tissues and a signal that you need to drink more. This is also associated with an increase in urination. You may still be very hungry even after eating. That’s because your muscles aren’t able to receive the energy they require from the food; your body’s insulin resistance prevents glucose from entering the muscle and providing energy. As a result, your muscles and other tissues send out a ‘hunger’ message, attempting to draw additional energy into your system.”
2 — Sweet-Smelling Urine
Sweet-smelling urine is a warning sign that your blood sugar levels may be too high, according to doctors. “Normally, the quantity of sugar expelled through the urine is not measurable,” says Matthew Goldman, MD. “However, if your blood sugar level is sufficiently high, sugar starts to leave the circulation and enter the urine.”
3 — Blurry Vision
If you’re having trouble seeing, it’s possible that your blood sugar is too high. “As many as one in four working-age adults are living with Type 2 diabetes, but they do not know it,” said ophthalmologist Yu-Guang He, M.D. “So you could imagine their confusion when I see them for eye floaters or blurred vision and we give them a referral to get tested for diabetes,”  he adds. “Type 2 diabetes causes diabetic eye diseases, a group of diabetes-related eyes diseases such as diabetic macular edema and diabetic retinopathy. Approximately one-third of my patients who are working-age have diabetic eye damage, with diabetic retinopathy being the most common reason of blindness in this age group.”
4 — Fatigue
If you’re experiencing persistent, unexplained tiredness, see your doctor to rule out any blood sugar problems. “There’s no doubt that changes in your blood sugar levels can cause tiredness,” says Diabetes Care Canada. “When your blood sugars are too high, for example, the blood can’t flow as well and your cells do not get the nutrients and oxygen they require to function properly. High blood sugar can also cause inflammation. This, in turn, will release monocytes into the brain, causing tiredness. Similarly, if your blood sugar levels are too low, your cells won’t get enough energy to function properly, which will have an effect on your energy levels.”
5 — Weight Loss
When someone’s weight suddenly drops, it’s vital to examine any possible causes. “When we diagnose someone, we generally assume they’ve had diabetes for about five years,” explains endocrinologist Kevin Pantalone, DO. “Often, people will minimize their symptoms or rationalize them and they become worse until they reach a critical level that necessitates seeing someone,” he adds. “They’re losing lots of weight or can’t get enough rest because of their diabetes.”
