Do you know what the symptoms of high blood sugar are? And what are the causes that lead to it? When you eat pasta, or a piece of fruit, you provide your body with energy and nutrients, and one of the most important of these substances is glucose.

Our bodies usually regulate blood glucose levels, but sometimes the body is not able to effectively control those levels, so high blood sugar occurs.

So if you are interested in, or have diabetes, and would like to know all the details about high blood sugar, follow this article with us.

What is high blood sugar?

Hyperglycemia is a condition in which the blood glucose level is higher than normal. It usually affects people with diabetes, but it can also develop in people without diabetes.

The body uses a hormone called insulin to transport glucose from the blood to the cells, thus helping to lower the level of glucose in the blood and supply the cells with energy.

But when the body does not produce enough insulin, or glucose does not respond to insulin properly, it will cause glucose to remain in the blood instead of being sent to the cells, so blood glucose levels rise.

High blood sugar for long periods without treatment can lead to damage to nerves, organs, blood vessels, and tissues.

Symptoms of high blood sugar

Symptoms of high blood sugar above normal include the following:

1. Needing to urinate often, or needing to get up more often during the night than usual to urinate.
2. العطش الشديد.
3. Feeling tired.
4. Dry mouth.
5. عدم وضوح الرؤية.
6. Frequent hunger.
7. الصداع.
8. فقدان الوزن.
9. recurrent infections (التهاب المسالك البولية, or dermatitis).
10. Wounds that heal slowly.
11. جفاف البشرة.

Read also: How does diabetic foot begin?

Symptoms of high blood sugar for non-infected people

Symptoms of high blood sugar may sometimes appear in non-diabetics, especially in cases of severe psychological stress, when eating large amounts of sugar or carbohydrates, also with lack of sleep and lack of physical activity, or as a result of the use of some medications such as cortisone. Symptoms include the following:

• العطش الشديد.
• التبول المتكرر.
• Dry mouth.
• Unexplained fatigue or general weakness.
• Blurred vision.
• الصداع.
• Slow wound healing.

When symptoms recur or persist, it is important to perform a fasting blood sugar test, and another test after eating, in order to detect the presence of a pre-diabetic condition or the beginning of type 2 diabetes.

Symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis

Severe elevation can develop into severe, life-threatening complications, such as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). This condition is associated with type 1 diabetes, but can also occur in people with type 2.

The liver begins to break down fats and produce ketones when there is not enough insulin in the bloodstream to allow sugar to enter the cells.

But when large amounts of ketones are produced, it will lead to their accumulation in the blood, causing diabetic ketoacidosis.

Symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis include: 

• Hyperventilation.
• الغثيان.
• القيء.
• الصداع.
• Fruity-like mouth odor.
• سرعة ضربات القلب.
• Loss of consciousness (coma).
• آلام في المعدة.
• Change in psychological state.
• Dry skin and mouth.
• Muscle stiffness and pain.

Book your consultation now at Diabetes and Endocrinology Center At Al Mousa Specialist Hospital.

What are the causes of high blood sugar in people without diabetes?

There are several reasons why you may have symptoms of high blood sugar, such as:

1. Insulin resistance.
2. Pancreatic damage.

High blood sugar due to insulin resistance

Insulin resistance, also known as insulin sensitivity, is a common cause of high blood sugar. It occurs when cells in your muscles and liver don't respond to insulin as they should.

Thus, the body needs more insulin to regulate blood sugar. If your body is unable to produce an insufficient amount of insulin, this leads to high blood sugar.

Common causes of insulin resistance include:

• Obesity.
• Physical inactivity.
• Follow a diet that contains carbohydrates and saturated fats.

Some medications, such as: 

• Some blood pressure medications.
• الكورتيكوستيرويدات.
• Some HIV medications.
• Some psychiatric medications.
• Cushing's syndrome.
• Increased growth hormone.
• الحمل.
• Muscular dystrophy.

You can also see كيفية اكتشاف مرض السكر بدون تحليل

High blood sugar due to damage to the pancreas

Damage to the pancreas can lead to decreased insulin production, thus leading to high blood sugar.

Includes cases البنكرياس Which can cause high blood sugar as follows: 

1. أمراض المناعة الذاتية.
2. Chronic pancreatitis.
3. Pancreatic cancer.
4. Cystic fibrosis.

Causes of high blood sugar for people with diabetes

Indicates appearance Symptoms of high blood sugar People with diabetes suffer from a defect in the treatment method, due to the following reasons: 

• Not taking enough insulin.
• التوتر.
• Missing a dose of diabetes medication.
• Error in injection method (site).
• The dose of your oral diabetes medication is lower than you need.
• Eating more carbohydrates or starches than your body or medication can handle.
• Not exercising.

أقرأ أيضا مقال: Analysis of cumulative sugar

Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a condition in which blood sugar levels rise during pregnancy, due to the production of... المشيمة A hormone that prevents the body from using insulin effectively, which leads to the accumulation of glucose in the blood and high blood sugar.

Gestational diabetes is not caused by a lack of insulin, but by hormones produced during pregnancy that contribute to making insulin less efficient. Symptoms of gestational diabetes usually disappear after childbirth.

Symptoms of high blood sugar for pregnant women

If you have gestational diabetes, you usually have no symptoms, or think they are caused by pregnancy, but you can confirm the presence of gestational diabetes through routine screening.

Symptoms of high blood sugar in pregnant women include the following:

1. الجوع الشديد.
2. العطش الشديد.
3. Needing to urinate more than usual, especially at night.

Normal blood sugar level for pregnant women

When a pregnant woman notices any symptoms of high blood sugar, she should consult a doctor immediately and have it checked Normal blood sugar levelsAnd they are as follows: 

• In case of fasting:  The blood sugar level is less than 95 mg/dL.
• بعد الأكل بساعتين:  The blood sugar level is less than 120 mg/dL.

High blood sugar in children

Some children suffer from symptoms of high blood sugar, as a result of the accumulation of glucose in the blood, and this results from difficulty in making or using insulin.

You can read an article: Symptoms of diabetes in children

Symptoms of high blood sugar in children

Children with high blood sugar may feel: 

• Urinating often: 

This is because the kidneys expel excess glucose into the urine.

• العطش الشديد: 

If the child urinates a lot, he will lose a lot of fluids, and thus he will feel very thirsty.

• الشعور بالتعب: 

If the body cannot use glucose to produce energy, this leads to feelings of extreme fatigue.

It is possible that some children suffer from high blood sugar without knowing it, so children with diabetes must be examined several times a day, in order to ensure the normal level of sugar.

أقرأ أيضا عن Normal cumulative blood sugar level

Complications of high blood sugar

High blood sugar for a long period of time over the years can damage blood vessels and tissues in the body, resulting in a variety of complications, such as: 

1. Permanent damage to the nerves in your hands and feet (peripheral neuropathy).
2. Permanent damage to your eyes and vision problems (diabetic retinopathy).
3. Possibly life-threatening complications, such as diabetic ketoacidosis.
4. Nephropathy.
5. السكتة الدماغية.
6. My heart disease.
7. Gastroparesis.

It is important to remember that there are other factors that can contribute to the development of diabetes complications, such as: 

• Genetic factors.
• How long you have had diabetes.

Diagnosis of high blood sugar

Blood sugar levels must be measured, especially after symptoms of high blood sugar appear, by undergoing blood tests, such as: 

1. Fasting glucose (FBG) tests.
2. Glucose tolerance tests (OGTT).
3. A1C test.

Blood glucose tests are necessary to definitively diagnose high blood sugar.

Fasting glucose tests also require that you not eat food for 8 hours before the test.

People with diabetes use blood sugar testing at home to monitor sugar levels and check for high blood sugar.

Treatment of high blood sugar

Treatment depends on the cause of high blood sugar, and includes the following:

• الأنسولين: 

For people with type 1 diabetes, insulin is the main treatment for high blood sugar.

It can also be used in some cases to treat people with type 2 diabetes.

• Glucose-lowering medications: 

Different medications can be used, e.g الميتفورمينTo lower blood sugar levels.

• Glucose monitoring: 

Diabetics should monitor their blood glucose levels, according to their doctor's instructions.

• Lifestyle change: 

People with diabetes can reduce their risk of developing high blood sugar, or treat high blood sugar, by exercising regularly and following a healthy diet.

However, it must be noted that exercise should not be done if ketones are present in the urine, because they may cause a further rise in the blood sugar level.

• الحفاظ على وزن صحي: 

Try to maintain a healthy weight as this leads to regular boosting of blood sugar levels in the body.

• إدارة التوتر: 

Try to get enough sleep, and look for ways to manage stress, because stress helps release hormones that lead to high blood sugar.

You can also see Healthy eating schedule for diabetics

Risk factors for diabetes

There are many factors that increase the chances of developing diabetes, especially for these groups: 

• زيادة الوزن. 
• Having a family history of diabetes in addition to heart disease. 
• The presence of hereditary problems with blood vessels. 
• High blood pressure and lack of control. 
• Increase the level of harmful cholesterol in the body. 
• Aging after sixty. 
• Diabetes during pregnancy. 
• Lack of exercise and lack of physical activity. 
• Race and origin: Some research has indicated that populations from Asia, Africa, and Native Americans have an increased chance of developing diabetes.

Can diabetes be prevented? 

There are many factors that increase the risk of developing diabetes, which we have already learned about, but there are some tips that help reduce these chances as much as possible, which are as follows: 

• Follow a healthy, balanced diet, eat complex carbohydrates, reduce flour, white sugar, and sweets, and avoid all foods that lead to high insulin levels. 
• Make sure to get rid of excess weight immediately, as studies have shown that the majority of people with type 2 diabetes suffer from obesity, especially around the abdominal area, so obesity should be eliminated immediately. 
• Exercise regularly, as it helps prevent diabetes, as a result of increased insulin sensitivity within the cells. 
• Drink more water and avoid consuming juices, even natural ones, as they increase the chances of insulin levels rising. 
• Increase your vitamin D level. Many studies have shown that people whose blood vitamin D is less than 30 nanograms have an increased chance of developing type 2 diabetes, so expose them to sunlight, eat fatty foods, and fish liver oil. 
• Drink a cup of coffee daily because it contains polyphenols that help prevent diabetes.  

Stay away from smoking and make sure to change your lifestyle. If you suffer from high blood pressure, you must take medications regularly. 

How to deal with the symptoms of high blood sugar 

High blood sugar is due to many reasons, and it should be dealt with immediately, especially if you feel extremely thirsty, have an increased need to urinate, and feel tired and exhausted, and you should do the following: 

• First, drink large amounts of water, as it helps eliminate excess blood sugar and avoid dehydration. 
• You should do light exercise at home. 
• Stop taking any medications that increase blood sugar, especially carbohydrates and sugars. 
• Make sure to eat the minerals the body needs, such as chromium and magnesium. 
• Get some rest and relaxation, as stress and psychological stress are among the factors that raise blood sugar levels.

 In the end, I now realize, dear reader, what are the symptoms of high blood sugar, and what are the causes that lead to this? We also learned about ways to diagnose high blood sugar, and how to treat it, according to the type of diabetes and the duration of the disease.
So, if you suffer from high blood sugar, and want to reach normal levels, you should go to Al Mousa Hospital to obtain the necessary medical care.

Frequently asked questions about the symptoms of high blood sugar

Many people ask many questions other than what it is Symptoms of high blood sugar، مثل: 

هل ارتفاع السكر يسبب الوفاة؟

Yes.

Does blood sugar rise without diabetes?

Yes.

1. Insulin resistance.
2. تلف الكبد.
3. Increased growth hormone.
4. Increased cortisol hormone.
5. الحمل.

What are the symptoms of sudden high blood sugar?

Symptoms of sudden high blood sugar include the following:

• The need to urinate frequently, especially at night.
• الصداع.
• العطش الشديد.
• عدم وضوح الرؤية.
• Feeling tired.
• Dry mouth.

Does drinking water lower blood sugar levels?

لا. على الرغم من أن الشعور بالعطش الشديد يعد أحد اعراض ارتفاع السكر في الدم، إلا أن شرب مزيد من الماء لن يؤدي إلا خفض مستويات السكر في الدم، ولكنه سيساهم فقط في تقليل خطر الجفاف.

When is high blood sugar dangerous?

High blood sugar is dangerous if it is not treated and if you have two or more readings of 300 mg/dL in a row.

Neglecting to treat the symptoms of high blood sugar can lead to a dangerous complication, namely diabetic ketoacidosis, which may lead to death.

What are the most common signs of high blood sugar?

• زيادة عدد مرات التبول. 
• Feeling tired, exhausted, and having a headache without knowing the reason. 
• ضبابية الرؤية. 
• Thirst and intense desire to drink water.
• Inability to perform daily activities.
• The appearance of a bad odor in the mouth and a feeling of vomiting and nausea. This usually occurs as a result of high ketones in the body.