As Dr. Emanuele says, glucose monitoring can be an important tool to help you get your blood sugar under control. Typically, you would do it yourself using a glucose meter or glucometer, which analyzes a drop of blood that you draw by sticking your finger with a lancet and placing the blood on a disposable test strip that you insert into the meter. Some people will check their blood sugar daily or multiple times a day, sometimes using a continuous monitor that is worn on the body — particularly those who have type 1 diabetes or who have type 2 but take insulin.
The American Academy of Family Physicians is among the organizations advising that daily glucose self-testing has no benefit in patients with type 2 diabetes who are not on insulin or medications associated with hypoglycemia. Meanwhile, keep an eye out for these nine key warning signs and symptoms that blood sugar is too high — and talk to your doctor about whether you need to adjust your management plan.
This is a common but not-so-obvious sign of blood sugar that is too high: feeling really thirsty and needing to drink more than usual. You may become dehydrated and get dizzy. Fatigue and extreme tiredness are symptoms of uncontrolled blood sugar , the ADA says. Also, frequent urination can lead to dehydration , which Bandukwala identifies as another contributing factor to fatigue. High blood sugar levels can lead to swollen lenses in your eye from fluid leaking in, according to the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston.
This changes the shape of the lens, which makes it unable to properly focus, causing blurred vision. You may also find yourself struggling at work, having difficulty driving, and suffering from frequent headaches, Emanuele notes.
We also discuss the risk factors for developing this condition. When blood sugar levels are high, the kidneys try to remove the excess sugar by filtering it out of the blood. This can lead to a person needing to urinate more frequently, particularly at night.
The frequent urination that is necessary to remove excess sugar from the blood can result in the body losing additional water. Over time, this can cause dehydration and lead to a person feeling more thirsty than usual. Constant hunger or thirst can be early signs of type 2 diabetes. The digestive system breaks food down into a simple sugar called glucose, which the body uses as fuel. As a result, people with type 2 diabetes often feel constantly hungry, regardless of how recently they have eaten.
An excess of sugar in the blood can damage the tiny blood vessels in the eyes, which can cause blurry vision. This blurry vision can occur in one or both of the eyes and may come and go. If a person with diabetes goes without treatment, the damage to these blood vessels can become more severe, and permanent vision loss may eventually occur.
As a result, even small cuts and wounds may take weeks or months to heal. Slow wound healing also increases the risk of infection. In people with type 2 diabetes, this can lead to pain or a sensation of tingling or numbness in the hands and feet.
This condition is known as neuropathy , and it can worsen over time and lead to more serious complications if a person does not get treatment for their diabetes. Bariatric surgery Beta blockers Beta blockers: Do they cause weight gain? Beta blockers: How do they affect exercise? Blood glucose meters Blood glucose monitors Blood pressure: Can it be higher in one arm? Blood pressure chart Blood pressure cuff: Does size matter?
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The body tries to reduce blood glucose levels by flushing the excess glucose out of the body in the urine, making you more thirsty. High levels of glucose being passed in the urine are a perfect breeding ground for the fungal infection which causes thrush.
But not everyone gets symptoms. If you think your partner or a friend is also at risk of diabetes, speak to them and encourage them to seek professional advice. Some people are at a higher risk of developing diabetes than others.
Depending on the type of diabetes , this can be due to their ethnicity , their genetics or even their lifestyle choices. These are known as the risk factors of diabetes. Knowing what the risk factors are , and if they affect you, can help you decide if you need to do something to reduce your risk. If you have a couple minutes to spare, check your risk of type 2 diabetes using our Know Your Risk tool. If your score is moderate or high risk, you could be eligible for a free place on Healthier You, the Diabetes Prevention Programme for England.
But leaving it untreated can lead to serious health problems, including diabetic ketoacidosis , which can result in a potentially fatal coma.
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