Blood sugar is a vital part of our overall wellness, and when there is an imbalance, your health is at risk of developing serious complications such as heart disease, kidney disease and stroke.
“Simply put, it’s your body’s main source of energy,” says Dr. Bayou Carrie Winchell, medical director for urgent care at Carbon Health and St. Mary’s Hospital. You cannot survive without it.”
According to Winchell, the symptoms of high blood sugar can range from hidden signs to signs that you cannot ignore, according to what was published by the specialized medical website “eat this not that.”
What do you know regarding blood sugar?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, high blood sugar occurs when there is too much sugar in the blood. This happens when your body has too little insulin (the hormone that transports glucose into the blood). The condition is often associated with diabetes.
If that’s your blood sugar it’s too high!
According to Winchell, a blood sugar (glucose) level above 180, one to two hours following eating, is considered too high. A number from 100 to 125 is considered too high if you haven’t eaten for at least 8 hours.
The dangers of untreated high blood sugar
Excessive intake of sugar in the bloodstream for an extended period of time will damage the blood vessels responsible for delivering blood to organs such as the heart and kidneys.
Why do some people not know that they have high blood sugar?
According to Winchell, not everyone will notice signs of high blood sugar. But some symptoms can be subtle such as fatigue or increased thirst can develop slowly, and among these symptoms.
feeling tired
Dr. Carrie Winchell stresses that extra sugar (glucose) does not mean more energy…the body is unable to use the extra sugar to fuel what your body needs to be more active.
Thirst and increased urination
Your kidneys are unable to filter the extra sugar in your blood and respond by trying to remove it, increasing the amount of time and frequency of urination and putting you at risk of dehydration, Winchell says.
Weight loss
“If you are losing weight (involuntary), even though your appetite has increased or stayed the same, Winchell explains. This may occur because there is not enough insulin to respond to the excess glucose in the body. For energy, the body uses stored fat and muscle.
changes in vision
Dr. Carrie Winchell tells us, “High glucose levels can increase the amount of blood vessels that form behind the eye (retina). The extra vessels are harmful and can lead to a risk of blindness.”
Numbness and tingling
“Nerve damage also referred to as neuropathy can occur, which can indicate numbness or tingling in your toes and hands,” says Dr. Carrie Winchell.