12 symptoms that can occur with high blood sugar
The headline is a little misleading because symptoms alone can’t tell you whether your blood sugar is high. Some people with type 2 diabetes have few or no symptoms for years. A blood-glucose test is the reliable way to check.
Possible symptoms of persistently high blood sugar include:
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Frequent urination
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Increased thirst
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Increased hunger
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Unexplained weight loss
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Fatigue or unusual weakness
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Blurred vision
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Dry mouth or dry, itchy skin
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Slow-healing cuts or wounds
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Frequent infections, including urinary or skin infections
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Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
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Headaches
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Difficulty concentrating or feeling unusually foggy
These symptoms can have many other causes, so they don’t automatically mean you have diabetes.
When it’s urgent
Very high blood sugar can sometimes progress to a medical emergency. Vomiting, severe abdominal pain, deep or rapid breathing, confusion, extreme drowsiness, dehydration, or a fruity-smelling breath require urgent medical attention, particularly in someone with diabetes.
If you’re experiencing several of these symptoms, a clinician can check fasting blood glucose and/or HbA1c, which gives an indication of your average blood sugar over the preceding several months.
If you tell me which symptoms you’re experiencing and whether you have a recent glucose or HbA1c result, I can explain what they might mean.
