The increase in blood glucose levels, known as hyperglycemia, is a condition that can affect people with diabetes or even individuals with no history of the disease. Recognizing the symptoms of high blood sugar is essential to seek appropriate treatment and avoid complications.
Symptoms of High Glucose:
- Excessive Sed (polydipsia): One of the first signs of hyperglycemia is an intense and persistent thirst. This occurs because the kidneys attempt to eliminate excess glucose in the blood, which leads to frequent excretion of blood and, as a result, dehydration and an increased need for fluids.
- Frequent urination (polyuria): The increase in orine production is a symptom related to polydipsia. As the body tries to eliminate excess glucose through the urine, it takes frequent visits to the bathroom, especially during the evening.
- Persistent fatigue: Hyperglycemia can cause a constant feeling of tiredness and weakness. This is because the body cannot effectively use glucose as an energy source.
- Blurry vision: The high concentration of glucose in blood can affect the eyes, causing blurred or temporarily cloudy vision.
- Frequent infections: People with high glucose have a greater susceptibility to infections, such as urinary tract infections, due to the concentration of sugar in the urine, which provides a favorable environment for the growth of bacteria.
- Unintentional weight loss: Even though hyperglycemia can increase appetite, many people lose weight unintentionally. This occurs because the cells cannot obtain the glucose necessary for proper functioning.
- I barely understand: Breathing can acquire a fruity or sweet smell due to the presence of ketonic bodies in the body, which is produced when the body burns fat instead of glucose to obtain energy.
- Irritability: Instability in glucose levels can lead to changes in the mood, such as irritability and difficulty concentrating.
Furthermore, it is possible that other symptoms such as nausea, headache, poor healing, dry skin and increased appetite can appear.
What exam should I take to find out if my blood sugar is high?
The blood glucose test itself (reference value up to 100 mg/dL) is not recommended to check if your blood sugar is high, as it is only a control marker and is not sufficient for the diagnosis alone. In this sense, it is necessary to carry out complementary tests such as hemoglobin A1c and glucose.
It is important to remember the extreme need to carry out an adequate 12-hour test, as feeding can affect the results and give rise to false positives.
Possible complications of high blood glucose:
It is important to highlight that hyperglycemia should not be ignored, as, if not treated properly, it can lead to serious complications, such as damage to organs and blood vessels. If you experience any of these symptoms recurrently, it is essential to consult a health professional for an accurate evaluation and diagnosis.
What increases glucose?
Initially, high glucose occurs due to conditions that affect the production of insulin, which is the hormone responsible for processing sugar in the body. Glucose can increase due to several factors, most of which are caused by poor eating and physical habits, as well as genetic and hereditary factors. Some of these factors include:
- Pancreatitis
- Some types of medicines
- Infections
- Cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
- Hypercortisolism
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Diabetes mellitus or gestational diabetes
- Unbalanced and uncontrolled eating
- Overweight
High glucose treatment:
To treat high blood sugar, you must first consult a doctor to recommend the best treatment. Unfortunately, if diabetes has developed, it is not possible to reverse the process and you can only control the situation through changes in diet, exercise, insulin or medications. However, if you don't have diabetes, you can improve your situation by exercising, following an adequate diet, avoiding the consumption of sugar and alcohol, stopping smoking and increasing your fiber intake.
Foods to improve glucose:
- Skimmed milk
- Fish
- Pollo
- olive oil
- Maní
- Nueces
- Frijoles
- Brown rice
- Lechuga
- Fresh fruit
- White queso
Y eso es todo. Do you like learning more about glucose? Keep in mind the comments and don't forget to share this information with your friends and family.