Type 2 diabetes is often referred to as a “silent killer” because its early warning signs can be incredibly subtle and easy to miss. Or the symptoms it does cause, can be so unexpected, that you’d never think to connect them to high blood sugar levels.....CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
10 UNUSUAL Signs Your Blood Sugar is CONSTANTLY Too High
In today’s video, we’ll look at 3 classic symptoms of high blood sugar, and then we’ll explore 10 lesser-known, or more unusual symptoms, so let’s get into it.
First, it’s important to understand that diabetes and high blood sugar exist on a spectrum, and there’s no clear line where you suddenly develop problems. The optimal range is 70 to 80 mg/dL during the day, and HbA1C below 5.5%.
But as soon as your blood sugar levels start rising beyond that healthy range, you’ve entered the diabetes risk zone, and opened the door to the potential damage that elevated blood sugar can cause over time.
“Borderline” high blood sugar and prediabetes – defined as fasting glucose 100-125 mg/dL and HbA1C 5.7-6.4% – should not be taken likely, as the harm to your heart, blood vessels, and other organs is already underway, even without a full-blown diabetes diagnosis. In fact, research shows around two-thirds of Emergency Room heart attack patients, already had prediabetes.
So, if you’ve received a prediabetes or metabolic syndrome diagnosis, don’t assume there’s nothing to worry about until your blood sugar reaches the full diabetic range. The reality is, the risk of heart attack and stroke, rises with any blood sugar elevation beyond the normal range.
Now, let’s first look at three common symptoms of Type 2 diabetes.
One. You feel extra thirsty and urinate more than usual.
One of the more common, yet often overlooked, signs of high blood sugar is increased thirst and urination.
When glucose levels in your bloodstream rise too high, your kidneys have to work overtime to try and flush out the excess sugar, leading to a condition called polyuria, or excessive urination. This increased urination naturally results in greater thirst, and the frequent trips to the bathroom can also leave you feeling dizzy or lightheaded.
In this situation, it’s important not to reach for sugary drinks or fruit juices, as these will only exacerbate the problem by further spiking your blood sugar.
While thirst and urination can be caused by a variety of factors, such as your environment, exercise routine, dehydration, diet, or medication, if these symptoms are occurring regularly, it may be a sign of diabetes.
Two. You feel hungry all the time.
Uncontrolled high blood sugar can cause an insatiable hunger, also known as polyphagia. When the body struggles to effectively regulate blood sugar, its levels tend to spike and then crash, causing shakiness, hunger, and irritability – a state referred to as the “hangries.”
This can lead to cravings for more carbs or sugary foods, and many people mistakenly think that eating these is the best way to relieve the blood sugar crash.
However, this only perpetuates the vicious cycle of fluctuations that can further raise blood sugar levels over time. The actual best approach to stabilize blood sugar is to focus on low-carb foods and higher-protein, healthy fats instead.
This helps eliminate the “hangries” and avoids the glucose ups and downs, breaking the cycle of blood sugar spikes and crashes.
Three. You feel tiredness and fatigue constantly.
Fluctuating blood sugar levels can wreak havoc on your energy levels. Simply put, when your body is not processing insulin properly or it doesn’t have sufficient amounts of insulin, the sugar is staying in your blood rather than getting into your cells to be used for energy. This lack of available glucose for your cells leaves you feeling fatigued and drained.
In addition, the frequent urination that often accompanies high blood sugar can lead to dehydration, which is another contributing factor to the overwhelming sense of tiredness.
Now, let’s look at 10 less obvious, or more unusual symptoms of diabetes:
Number 10. “You are overweight, or unexpectedly losing weight”.
Weight gain, is one of the common symptoms of diabetes, but not all people with this condition are overweight, or obese. In fact, unexplained weight loss can actually be one of the first signs of high blood sugar.
Even though you’re constantly hungry and eating more than usual, you may paradoxically start losing weight without trying.
This is because when your body can’t properly utilize glucose for energy due to the high blood sugar levels, it’s forced to break down muscle and fat stores instead. You may also notice muscle weakness and an increased risk of falls along with the weight loss.
Number 9. “You feel irritable or depressed”.
Some evidence suggests that sudden changes in blood sugar levels, which are common in diabetes, may contribute to mood changes.
That’s because too much sugar and starch can disrupt the sensitive microbiome in the gut, which produces a large portion of serotonin – a brain chemical that plays a key role in regulating mood and promoting feelings of happiness and calmness.
A 2017 review found that post-meal blood sugar fluctuations caused anxious and depressive moods in people with type 2 diabetes.
The researchers also noted that these post-meal blood sugar changes may negatively impact cognition, including attention and focus.
Number 8. “You experience tingling and numbness in your hands or feet”.
High blood sugar levels can start causing complications long before you’re even aware you have diabetes. One of the earliest signs is a type of mild nerve damage that can lead to numbness or tingling in the hands and feet.
This happens because the excess glucose damages the small blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the peripheral nerves.
A common early symptom is a persistent “pins and needles” sensation in the extremities, which signals that nerve damage is already underway, even if your blood sugar isn’t yet at diabetic levels. This nerve damage is extremely serious and requires prompt attention, as it can progress to a complete loss of sensation.
Without feeling in the hands and feet, you become more prone to injuries, slow healing, and infections – all of which raise the risk of eventual amputation if left unchecked.
Number 7. “You have sores that heal more slowly than usual”.
Uncontrolled blood sugar can significantly impair the body’s ability to heal cuts, scrapes, bruises, and other wounds. Diabetes causes nerve damage and affects circulation, especially in the lower legs and feet, which can delay the healing process because there isn’t enough blood flow to the area.
Even minor wounds are more prone to infections in those with diabetes, which can become very serious and even result in amputations of the foot if left unchecked.
You may notice drainage seeping onto your socks or an unpleasant smell if you develop a foot ulcer, which is a clear sign that the wound is not healing properly.
Number 6. “You have a yeast or urinary tract infection”.
Higher than normal levels of sugar in the body can also feed yeast infections like Candida, along with certain pathogenic bacteria.
Candida organisms thrive on glucose, so the foods and drinks you consume may be inadvertently encouraging a Candida overgrowth. Candida normally live in a person’s digestive tract and vagina, but are typically kept in balance.
However, an out-of-control Candida infection is usually an indicator that your body’s immune system, and possibly your blood sugar levels, are out of whack.
The excess glucose in the urine also provides a prime breeding ground for bacteria and yeast that would not normally survive. Recurrent urinary tract infections, combined with frequent, or ongoing yeast infections, is a good reason to get checked out by a medical professional.
Number 5. “You have blurry vision”.
Even before high blood sugar levels start to damage the blood vessels in the eye, causing diabetic retinopathy, vision can become blurry in the early stages of diabetes or pre-diabetes.
This is because elevated glucose levels can cause the blood to thicken and build up in the eye, temporarily changing its shape and making it harder to focus. This blurriness can be a chronic, ongoing issue, but it can also occur more acutely after consuming a high-carb meal, sugary drink, or dessert.
If left untreated, these vision problems can continue to worsen over time. You may even start to see dark floating spots or streaks in your field of vision.
The good news is that this type of vision impairment can be resolved once blood sugar is brought under control and stabilized, though it may take 3 to 6 months for the eye to fully recover.
Number 4. “You have swollen or bleeding gums”.
Gum disease is a common complication of diabetes that can also make the condition harder to control.
This is because the body’s response to infection, such as gum disease, is to release more glucose into the bloodstream. If you have diabetes, your saliva contains higher levels of glucose, providing more fuel for the bacteria that combine with food to form plaque and cause gum disease.
Symptoms can start with red or inflamed gums, but if left unaddressed, they can progress to periodontitis, in which the gums pull away from the teeth, the appearance of pus or ulcers, and even tooth loss.
To prevent this damage to your gums and teeth, get your blood sugar under control, and see a dental professional for preventive care and treatment of any gum issues that arise.
Number 3. “You have blisters, dry skin, or other skin changes”.
When your blood sugar levels are not well-controlled, you may notice the development of small, extra skin tags in the folds and creases of your body, especially if you’re trying to manage your weight.
Another common sign is the appearance of dark, thick patches of soft skin, known as acanthosis nigricans, which often form on the neck, hands, armpits, or face – this can indicate insulin resistance.
Other potential diabetes-related skin issues include dry and itchy skin, painless blisters, thick, stiff patches of skin, yellow bump-like growths, and large, painful sores.
Number 2. “You start to experience hearing loss”.
Fluctuating blood sugar levels can significantly increase the risk of hearing loss, as the condition impacts the inner ear in multiple ways.
Long-term high blood sugar can damage the small blood vessels and nerves, impairing the inner ear’s ability to properly transmit sound signals to the brain. Conversely, prolonged low blood sugar can also disrupt how the inner ear sends nerve signals.
This explains why individuals with diabetes are about twice as likely to experience hearing loss compared to those without the condition.
Number 1. “Your breath starts to smell fruity”.
Fruity breath is a common symptom of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a serious diabetes complication. This occurs when your body lacks sufficient insulin to move glucose into your cells, causing your liver to instead break down fat for energy.
This fat breakdown process releases ketones, which are acids that increase the acidity of your blood – a life-threatening condition if left untreated. One of these ketones, acetone, is responsible for the distinctive fruity odor in the breath of people experiencing DKA.
Now, all of the symptoms we have discussed can be attributed to other health issues as well, so there’s no need to panic if you experience things like fatigue, irritability or increased thirst for a short period of time. The same goes for any of the other potential diabetes warning signs.
However, if these symptoms become persistent and are accompanied by other diabetes red flags, it’s time to get checked out by your doctor.
Your doctor will run blood tests to assess your A1C levels, which provide a snapshot of your blood sugar stability over the previous 3 months. They may also do a fasting glucose test. You will want to request an insulin level test as well, as insulin levels often start rising long before blood sugar becomes elevated.
To reverse type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, making the right dietary and lifestyle changes is critical. A diet rich in antioxidants, organic vegetables and fruits, and naturally-raised meats, poultry and fish, combined with certain targeted natural supplements, can help stop the progression of diabetes and reduce the damage it does to your body….CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
