Diabetes symptoms: Ten signs of high blood sugar – they are ‘potentially dangerous’
Type 2 diabetes can be a 'devastating diagnosis' says expert
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High blood sugar, also known as hyperglycaemia, can be caused by a number of factors. When your blood sugar levels are slightly higher than normal, you are not likely to experience any symptoms. Nonetheless, if it is particularly high there are several symptoms which can occur.
Diabetes UK says that hyperglycaemia, or a “hyper”, can happen when your blood glucose levels are too high.
This is usually above 7mmol/l before a meal and above 8.5mmol/l two hours after a meal.
The NHS says that symptoms of hyperglycaemia in people with diabetes tend to develop slowly over a few days or weeks.
The NHS notes that if you have diabetes, “no matter how careful you are, you’re likely to experience hyperglycaemia” at some point.
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It adds: “Occasional mild episodes are not usually a cause for concern and can be treated quite easily or may return to normal on their own.
“But hyperglycaemia can be potentially dangerous if blood sugar levels become very high or stay high for long periods.”
It suggests that in some cases, there may be no symptoms until the blood sugar level is very high.
Symptoms of hyperglycaemia include increased thirst and a dry mouth, needing to pee frequently, tiredness and blurred vision.
You may also experience unintentional weight loss or recurrent infections, such as thrush, bladder infections and skin infections.
The NHS says other signs include tummy pain, feeling or being sick, or breath that smells fruity.
If you experience hyperglycaemia regularly, you should speak to your doctor or diabetes care team, according to the NHS.
It notes: “Symptoms of hyperglycaemia can also be caused by undiagnosed diabetes, so see a GP if this applies to you. You can have a test to check for the condition.”
It can affect people with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes, as well as pregnant women with gestational diabetes.
Hyperglycaemia can be potentially dangerous if blood sugar levels become very high or stay high for long periods.
Diabetes UK says: “Your blood sugar levels go up and down throughout the day and for people living with diabetes these changes are larger and happen more often than in people who don’t have diabetes.”
The NHS notes: “The aim of diabetes treatment is to keep blood sugar levels as near to normal as possible.”
The health site adds that you should contact your diabetes care team immediately if you have a high blood sugar level and experience the following symptoms:
- Feeling or being sick
- Tummy (abdominal) pain and diarrhoea
- Rapid, deep breathing
- A fever (38C or above) for more than 24 hours
- Signs of dehydration, such as a headache, dry skin and a weak, rapid heartbeat
- Difficulty staying awake.
Diabetes impacts more than 4.9 million people in the UK, with 90 percent of those cases type two.Type 1 diabetes is where the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin, and type 2 diabetes is where the body does not produce enough insulin, or the body’s cells do not react to insul.
The health site adds that you should contact your diabetes care team immediately if you have a high blood sugar level and experience the following symptoms:Feeling or being sick
Tummy (abdominal) pain and diarrhoea
Rapid, deep breathing
A fever (38C or above) for more than 24 hours
Signs of dehydration, such as a headache, dry skin and a weak, rapid heartbeat
Difficulty staying awake.
Diabetes impacts more than 4.9 million people in the UK, with 90 percent of those cases type two.Type 1 diabetes is where the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin, and type 2 diabetes is where the body does not produce enough insulin, or the body’s cells do not react to insulin.
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