The elevation of blood glucose levels, known as hyperglycemia, is a condition that can affect people with diabetes or even individuals without a history of the disease. Recognizing the symptoms of high glucose is essential to seek appropriate treatment and avoid complications.
Symptoms of High Glucose:
- Excessive thirst (polydipsia): One of the early signs of hyperglycemia is intense and persistent thirst. This occurs because the kidneys try to eliminate excess glucose from the blood, leading to frequent urination and, as a result, dehydration and an increased need for fluids.
- Frequent urination (polyuria): Increased urine production is a symptom related to polydipsia. As the body tries to rid itself of excess glucose through urine, this leads to frequent trips to the bathroom, especially at night.
- Persistent fatigue: Hyperglycemia can cause a constant feeling of tiredness and weakness. This is because the body is not effectively using glucose as an energy source.
- Blurred vision: The high concentration of glucose in the blood can affect the eyes, causing blurry or temporarily cloudy vision.
- Frequent infections: People with high glucose have a higher susceptibility to infections, such as urinary tract infections, due to sugar concentration in the urine, which provides a conducive environment for bacteria growth.
- Unintentional weight loss: Although hyperglycemia can increase appetite, people often lose weight unintentionally. This occurs because cells cannot obtain the necessary glucose for proper functioning.
- Bad breath: Breath can acquire a fruity or sweet smell due to the presence of ketones in the breath, which occurs when the body burns fat instead of glucose for energy.
- Irritability: Instability in glucose levels can lead to mood swings, such as irritability and difficulty concentrating.
In addition, other symptoms such as nausea, headaches, poor wound healing, dry skin, and excessive hunger may appear.
What increases glucose?
Initially, high glucose is caused by conditions that affect insulin production, which is the hormone responsible for sugar processing in the body. Glucose can increase due to various factors, most of which are caused by poor dietary and physical habits, as well as genetic and hereditary factors. Some of these factors include:
- Pancreatitis
- Certain types of medications
- Infections
- Stroke (CVA)
- Hypercortisolism
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Diabetes mellitus or gestational diabetes
- Unbalanced and uncontrolled eating
- Overweight
Treatment for high glucose:
To treat high glucose, it is necessary to consult a doctor to determine the best treatment. Unfortunately, if you have already developed diabetes, 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 do not yet have diabetes, you can improve the situation by engaging in exercise, following a proper diet, avoiding the consumption of sugar and alcohol, quitting smoking, and increasing fiber intake.
Foods to Improve Glucose:
- Skim milk
- Fish
- Chicken
- Olive oil
- Peanuts
- Nuts
- Beans
- Brown rice
- Lettuce
- Fresh fruits
- Cottage cheese
And that's it. Did you enjoy learning more about glucose? Tell us in the comments and don't forget to share this information with your friends and family.
