EXCESSIVE THIRST
We mentioned that there is a chain reaction in your body, and that urination goes along with thirst and hunger. As you might assume, since your body is throwing away fluids, you need to replenish those fluids. If not, you’ll dehydrate. Thirst signals are triggered in your brain as soon as you start urinating more and more. People with diabetes often misunderstand and misinterpret the connection between urination and thirst. People think that urination is a result of thirst. In reality, it works the other way around. So, a common misconception is that you are urinating because you “drinking a lot of water lately.”
EXCESSIVE HUNGER
Excessive hunger is the third common and early sign of high blood sugar. But in reality, hunger is more of a result of a low insulin level. There are two types of low insulin levels. In type 1 diabetes, people experience an absolute shortage of insulin. Patients with type 2 diabetes experience a relative shortage of insulin.
In both cases, there is not enough insulin to move glucose molecules from your bloodstream to your cells. As a result, your body lacks energy and fuel for its processes, and the cells then send hunger signals to your brain via several hormones. It’s worth noting that your cells cannot understand that they are “starving in the land of plenty.” In reality, there is more than enough glucose in the bloodstream, but they can’t access it due to low insulin levels.
WEIGHT LOSS
There are three reasons why you are losing weight, even though you are eating like crazy. The good news is that if you want to lose weight, you’ll actually do so. But joking aside, losing weight because of high blood sugar is not something you would like. Now, to the reasons.
- The first reason why you lose weight is because of excessive urination. The result is a low level of fluids in the body, and you weigh less. It is exactly what happens when you get a diuretic, for example. Some people actually get a diuretic to weigh less.
- The second reason is because of low insulin levels, and your body switches to burning fat more rapidly. The more fat you burn, the more weight you lose.
- Third, and last, your urine is rich with glucose. Explained in the simplest way possible: you are actually peeing calories.
SLOW HEALING OF WOUNDS AND CUTS
When your blood sugar levels are high, the skin’s healing processes are slowed down. Neutrophils, one of your body’s best tools to fight against diseases, are vulnerable to high blood sugar. Neutrophils are leukocytes that your body uses to fight injuries and infections. And when you have high blood sugar, the control system that signals your brain to send neutrophils to the injury is disrupted.
Another reason for the slow healing of wounds and cuts is the lack of oxygen. When your blood sugar levels are high, delivery of oxygen is reduced due to nerve damage and blood vessel disease. And if you ignore your high blood sugar levels, infections like cellulitis can result from diabetes complications.
DRY AND ITCHY SKIN
I mentioned previously that you feel thirsty due to excessive urination. And that’s due to dehydration. For those who are a little more into skin care, hydration is essential for healthy skin. Excessive urination completely dehydrates your system to the point that skin tissues are drying out. But that’s not all. Because of high blood sugar, your body circulation is poor. And then there’s the nerve damage that interferes with the normal operation and functioning of the sweat glands, the skin’s natural moisturizers.
HEADACHES
We talked about dehydration and cell starvation. Without oxygen, blood, and nutrients, your brain can’t function properly. Headaches occur and you have trouble concentrating, all because starving cells signal that they can’t access glucose in the bloodstream. One thing to consider: your brain devours almost one-quarter of the glucose you consume. And because your brain has difficulty accessing the fuel, your brain function is reduced. You can’t finish tasks like thinking, remembering, staying focused, or reasoning. And the eventual result is constant and painful headaches.
FATIGUE
Anytime you feel dehydrated, fatigue and tiredness are normal side effects. Simply put, you can’t create energy. We all need a certain amount of energy to function properly throughout the day. And when you don’t produce enough energy, your body is slowly dying. To make matters worse, due to constant and excessive urination, you can’t sleep properly. The result is even less energy and feeling more tired than ever.
BLURRED VISION
Another result of excessive urination is blurred vision. Your body tries to dilute the blood by pulling fluids from the cells, a process that occurs mostly through the cells of the eyes. And as the lens in the eyes dry out, they become temporarily warped. The end result is that your eyes lose their ability to focus properly. If you ignore the initial signs, chronic high blood sugar levels can lead to diseases like retinopathy, a damage to the back of the eye that can lead to blindness.
CHRONIC CONSTIPATION OR DIARRHEA
Constipation and diarrhea are positioned at opposite sides of the spectrum. But they are both caused by high blood sugar. It all depends on which section of the bowel the sugar affects. For example, when your sugar levels affect the small intestine, you get diarrhea. When the sugar levels affect the large intestine, on the other hand, you get constipation.
ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION
Some statistics show that men over 50 years old are extremely prone to erectile dysfunction. In fact, half of them suffer from the condition. A healthy erection requires healthy nerves and blood flow, as well as the right balance of hormones. Now, without getting too scientific, let’s just say that in order to get an erection, your body has to fulfill a number of hydraulic processes and events. The result is your penis is filled with blood, and you need even more processes to keep the blood trapped inside the penis. All of that is impossible with high blood sugar levels.
IRRITABILITY
People with diabetes are known to be irritable (in some ways, like women with PMS). I don’t want to stereotype, but that’s the comparison even women use. The biological reasons for the mood swings are not well documented and understood, although there have been several theories to explain it. But people living with someone with diabetes are well aware of the mood changes and irritability.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
All of the signs of high blood sugar have one goal in common: to signal you that you should start making changes in your lifestyle. Ignore the signs at your own peril; in the long run, high blood sugar levels cause permanent damage to your body, and it’s up to you to stop it.
They say the best way to cure a disease is to prevent it. If you notice the signs of high blood sugar, it might be time to make one of the following lifestyle changes:
- Start exercising regularly, two or three times per week.
- Control your carb intake (as I said, chocolate is not the only reason for high blood sugar).
- Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated at all times.
- Look for foods with a low glycemic index. Now might be the time to look at labels!
- Increase your fiber intake to promote healthy digestion.
- Last, but not least, control your stress levels. Stress eating is one of the biggest causes of high blood sugar.