If blood sugar is too high for too long, it can lead to serious health problems. Whether you have diabetes or not, you need to take this problem seriously enough.
How high is too high a blood sugar? Your doctor will tell you the target range for your blood glucose and what to do if your blood glucose level is out of that range. People with diabetes need to check their blood glucose levels to see if they are too high, too low, or at the desired level.
Problems caused by high blood sugar can occur gradually over time. The sooner you get your blood sugar back to normal levels, the better.
Symptoms of hyperglycemia
- Feeling more thirsty than usual
- Blurred vision
- Having to urinate more often
- Feeling hungrier than usual
- Numbness or tingling in the feet
Patients may also feel more tired than usual, have skin infections, or find that cuts and sores take a long time to heal.
If the patient has one of these symptoms, contact the doctor.
Complications
Elevated blood glucose levels can have effects throughout the patient’s body. If blood sugar has been out of control for a long time, patients may experience some or all of the following symptoms:
- Heart attack or myocardial infarction
- Stroke
- Renal injury
- Nerve damage
- Eye damage
- Skin problems
When to seek medical attention?
You should seek medical attention if you have one of the following symptoms along with elevated blood glucose:
- Hypopnea
- Vomiting
- Elevated ketone levels in the urine
- Extreme thirst, or very dry mouth
- Having to urinate too often
- Dry or flushed skin
- Exhaled breath smells like fruit
- Delayed consciousness
These are all symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). The body burns glucose to produce energy. When cells can’t get enough glucose, they burn fat. This produces a chemical called ketone bodies. When a buildup of ketone bodies occurs, the patient’s blood becomes more acidic. If left untreated, this complication can be life-threatening.
hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome (HHNS)
This disorder occurs mostly in older patients. As glucose builds up in the blood, the body tries to excrete it in the urine.
At first, the patient will urinate a lot. Over time, the patient urinates less often, but the urine that comes out is very dark in color. This condition can lead to dehydration, coma, or even death.
Patients should seek immediate medical attention if their body shows one of the following warning signs:
- Glucose levels above 600 mg/dl
- Extreme thirst that resolves on its own later
- Warm, dry skin, no sweating
- Fever greater than 38°C (101°F)
- Insomnia or confusion
- Weakness and weakness on one side of the body
- Blindness
- Hallucinations
Of course, patients can avoid these problems by controlling their blood sugar. In addition, patients should follow their doctor’s recommendations regarding diet and exercise, take their medications on time, keep follow-up appointments, and check their blood glucose levels regularly.