The High-Sugar Alert: Recognizing 12 Key Symptoms Your Body May Be Showing You
High blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, can develop gradually, especially with diabetes or prediabetes. Some people have few or no noticeable symptoms, while others experience several changes. Symptoms alone cannot confirm high blood sugar, so testing is important when diabetes is suspected.
1. Increased Thirst
Feeling unusually thirsty and needing to drink more often can occur when excess glucose in the blood causes the body to lose more water through urination.
2. Frequent Urination
Needing to urinate more often, particularly when it is unusual for you, can be an early sign of elevated blood glucose.
3. Increased Hunger
Some people with poorly controlled diabetes feel hungry frequently because glucose cannot be used effectively by the body’s cells.
4. Unexplained Weight Loss
Losing weight without intentionally changing your diet or activity level can occur when the body cannot use glucose properly and begins using stored fat and muscle for energy.
5. Persistent Fatigue
High blood sugar can be associated with feeling unusually tired or lacking energy. Fatigue can have many other causes, however, so it should not automatically be blamed on blood sugar.
6. Blurred Vision
High glucose levels can temporarily affect the fluid balance in the eye and cause changes in vision. New or persistent blurred vision should be evaluated rather than assumed to be caused by diabetes.
7. Slow-Healing Cuts and Wounds
High blood sugar over time can interfere with circulation and the body’s ability to fight infection and repair damaged tissue. Wounds that are not healing normally deserve medical attention.
8. Recurrent Infections
People with diabetes may be more prone to certain infections, including urinary infections and some skin or fungal infections.
9. Tingling or Numbness
Persistently elevated blood sugar can damage nerves over time, potentially causing tingling, burning, pain, or numbness, particularly in the feet and hands.
10. Dry or Itchy Skin
Dehydration associated with frequent urination can contribute to dry skin. Diabetes can also be associated with certain skin conditions that cause itching.
11. Headaches or Difficulty Concentrating
Changes in blood glucose can sometimes be associated with headaches, difficulty concentrating, or feeling mentally sluggish. These symptoms are nonspecific and can occur for many other reasons.
12. Nausea, Vomiting, or Abdominal Pain
Very high blood sugar can become dangerous, particularly when accompanied by nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, deep or rapid breathing, or marked weakness. These symptoms can occur with diabetic ketoacidosis, which requires urgent medical treatment.
When Should You Get Your Blood Sugar Checked?
If you have several of these symptoms, particularly increased thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, or persistent fatigue, arrange a medical evaluation. A blood glucose test or A1C test can help determine whether your blood sugar is in the normal, prediabetes, or diabetes range.
If you already have diabetes, follow your healthcare professional’s instructions for monitoring and managing your glucose.
The Bottom Line
Your body can sometimes give clues that blood sugar is too high, but symptoms alone cannot diagnose diabetes. Testing is the reliable way to find out what is happening. Recognizing persistent changes and getting appropriate testing can help identify high blood sugar before complications develop.
