How to understand that you have high sugar. High blood sugar: symptoms and first signs

In the modern world, several types of diseases are experiencing a steady increase, among them endocrine diseases and, above all, diabetes mellitus. In terms of the number of cases, it lags behind only oncology and cardiovascular diseases.

Doctors constantly remind us that the disease needs to be known in person and it is better to prevent its occurrence. But if a person falls into a risk group, then it is necessary to monitor his condition and know the first signs of increased blood sugar. In women, hyperglycemia requires an individual approach to therapy.

What is glucose and its norms

In pursuit of health, many try to exclude salt, pure sugar and all products containing glucose from their diet. But such a strict principle of denying necessary products or substances leads to other diseases and complications. People with a hereditary tendency to diabetes need to scrupulously draw up a menu, however, in clear rules of eating behavior, the use of healthy foods, although limited, is not completely excluded.

First, let’s determine the indicators of glucose levels in the bloodstream, based on medical standards:

Normal values for a healthy person are from 3.3 mmol/l to 5.5 mmol/l.
Prediabetic state - from 5.5 mmol/l to 6 mmol/l.
The diagnosis of diabetes is made at levels above 6.1 mmol/l.

Why does the body need sugar?

Glucose is a substance that supplies energy to the cells and tissues of the entire body. In addition, the presence of the required amount of sugar in the blood, in combination with other participants, ensures the occurrence of such vital processes:

Synthesis of nucleic acids, lipids, amino acids.
Supports the functioning of the heart and blood vessels.
Triggering the production of normal levels of enzymes.
Balance and normal functioning of the central nervous system.
Promotes a feeling of satiety.

The process of glucose formation has several stages. Products enter the stomach, where the process of breaking down carbohydrates into saccharides, which includes glucose, takes place. Next, through the walls of the stomach, glucose is absorbed into the blood and transported to cells and tissues. The mobility and ability of glucose to penetrate cells is ensured by the hormone insulin; the pancreas is responsible for its production.

Physiological increase

The first signs of increased blood sugar in women appear quite late, when the process has already started and even has some complications. The causes of hyperglycemia are divided into two groups - physiological and pathological.

The first group includes temporary factors, after the elimination of which the sugar level returns to normal levels, for example:

Stress, prolonged emotional stress.
Pregnancy.
Eating simple carbohydrates.
Pain syndrome (causes the release of the hormones adrenaline and thyroxine).
Severe blood loss, lack of rutin and B vitamins in the blood.
active sports.

Physiological signs of increased blood sugar in women disappear naturally after eating. In due time after eating, the glucose level in a healthy person stabilizes. If you follow the rules of a balanced diet and do not overeat, no threats to the female body arise.

Medicines and sugar

Also, temporary hyperglycemia is caused by taking certain groups of medications:

Estrogens, beta blockers, phenothiazines.
Glucocorticosteroids (based on prednisolone).
Oral contraceptives.

If signs of increased blood sugar in women are observed while taking medications, the doctor should be notified. Based on the test results, the specialist adjusts the drug regimen, dosage, or completely replaces it with another medicine.

Pathological causes

Pathological hyperglycemia occurs in the following diseases and conditions:

Liver cirrhosis, infectious hepatitis.
Diabetes mellitus, pancreatitis.
Neuroendocrine diseases - polycystic ovary syndrome, obesity, Cushing's disease, etc.
Disturbances in the functioning of the adrenal glands.
Neoplasms of the pancreas.
Complications after stroke, heart attack, various types of injuries.
Neoplasms that cause hormonal distortion (glucagonomas, pheochromocytomas).

If hyperglycemia is suspected, a visit to the doctor is necessary, and this should be done as soon as possible. Postponing the problem is fraught with fatal consequences, often with incurable complications, manifested in the form of loss of vision, disability, etc. The specialist will definitely prescribe the necessary laboratory tests, instrumental diagnostics, and collect a complete medical history to find out what causes the increase in blood sugar. Women, according to medical statistics, are much more likely to get endocrine diseases than men.

General symptoms

Against the backdrop of constant warnings about the high likelihood of diseases of the endocrine system, not everyone knows what the signs of increased blood sugar in women are. But before we look at them, let’s determine what the common symptoms of high glucose levels are.

There are a number of body signals that indicate health problems associated with increased glucose levels in the bloodstream:

Feeling of unquenchable thirst. The patient can drink up to 5 liters of water per day, but still feel dry mouth. This is because glucose attracts water molecules and removes them from the body.
Frequent urination (polyuria). Glucose along with water is excreted from the body through the kidneys, the water-salt balance is disturbed, and the renal system suffers. Dizziness may occur.
Fatigue, weakness. Glucose is the body's source of energy. With pathologies of the pancreas and the inability of the organ to reproduce insulin, which delivers glucose to the tissues, the cells do not receive the necessary charge for activity and experience constant hunger.
Increase/decrease in body weight(depending on the type of damage to the pancreas).
Slow healing of minor scratches, inflammation of wounds, cuts. As a result, suppuration may occur, in severe cases leading to amputation.
Skin diseases, infections of the genitourinary organs, accompanied by constant itching. Furunculosis, colpitis, etc. may occur.
The body takes on the smell of acetone. As a rule, this happens when blood sugar levels are very high. This is an ominous sign indicating the approach of diabetic ketoacidosis.

Female specificity

Blood glucose levels that are significantly higher than normal gradually destroy internal organs and tissues. The immune system suffers, any viral or bacterial infection is fraught with severe disease, slow recovery and complications. Your health needs to be monitored to avoid chronic diseases. General signs are observed, including in women, but there are also special signs.

What are the first signs of high blood sugar in women? They are as follows:

Disorders of the menstrual cycle, which occurs due to hormonal imbalances.
Vaginal infections, fungal infections of the genitourinary system. The resulting diseases are very difficult to treat, since an ideal environment has been created for their development.
Hair loss, changes in its structure, loss of strength and shine. This sad symptom is caused by metabolic disorders.
Fungal infections of the nails on the lower extremities. With elevated blood sugar, the blood supply to the capillary system deteriorates, and the legs and arms often remain cold. Impaired blood circulation leads to a decrease in the body's resistance to infections, including fungal ones.
If glucose levels exceed 6 units, then a woman may begin to experience constant hunger, which indicates the threat of type 2 diabetes.
A sharp drop in visual acuity, the appearance of spots before the eyes.
Cramps. The symptom indicates an electrolyte imbalance and deterioration of blood supply.

Age characteristics

There are age-specific indicators for normal blood glucose levels. Having crossed the 40-year mark, you need to control your blood sugar on an ongoing basis, and this is due to the fading of the body’s functions to produce a sufficient amount of hormones. For women and men over 60 years of age, glucose levels range from 4.6 to 6.4 mmol/l. Elevated levels are not a pre-diabetic condition, but are associated solely with the fading of the immune system and a decrease in hormone levels.

The causes and signs of increased blood sugar in women after 60 years are no different from those at other ages. Treatment is complicated by slowing down the body's reactions to medications, so prevention, eating behavior and physical activity play a primary role. Experts recommend purchasing a special tester for home monitoring of sugar levels.

Special position

Expecting a child is accompanied by a woman’s vigilant attitude towards her health, which means tests are carried out regularly. The gynecologist, among other indicators, necessarily monitors the level of glucose in the blood. If it is elevated, especially after a control test, then the specialist concludes that the patient has gestational diabetes.

In the overwhelming majority of cases, this diagnosis is removed after childbirth, but it affects the process of gestation and is a threat to its health. In particular, the child may develop intrauterine hypoxia - oxygen starvation. Today, doctors have access to various methods to reduce risks in a baby’s development and normalize glucose levels throughout all trimesters. Signs of high blood sugar in women during pregnancy are standard, but the problem is that it is necessary to stabilize the condition of two people.

Gestational diabetes is a rare occurrence. According to medical data, 3-10% of expectant mothers experience it. in women during pregnancy:

Hormonal changes caused by polycystic ovary syndrome.
Obesity 3 or 4 degrees.
Manifestation of gestational diabetes in previous pregnancies.
Heredity.

Also, this type of hyperglycemia occurs due to the individual reaction of hormones to a particular woman’s pregnancy.

How to normalize sugar

Having found out what are the signs of increased blood sugar in women and having detected at least one of the symptoms, it is necessary to undergo a medical examination, make diagnostics, laboratory tests and consult a doctor. For pregnant women, this step is especially necessary. What a specialist usually recommends to normalize blood glucose:

Balance your diet, but don't restrict calories.
Organize fractional meals, the size of portions should correspond to the size of a clenched fist.
Eliminate simple carbohydrates (sugar, sweets, cakes, etc.) from your diet.
Complex carbohydrates should make up 50% of the generally accepted norm, the rest is compensated by fats and proteins.
Play sports, take long walks away from highways, factories, etc.
Take medications only as prescribed by your doctor.

How to overcome hyperglycemia

Pathological signs of increased blood sugar in women require medical attention. Treatment is necessary in borderline conditions, when indicators approach the figures characterizing a prediabetic state or diabetes. In this case, a visit to the doctor, a thorough diagnosis, strict adherence to the specialist’s recommendations and diet are required.

Nutrition principles:

Frequent meals in small portions (up to 6 times a day).
A balanced menu with plenty of fiber.
The amount of liquid should not exceed 2 liters per day.
One meal consists exclusively of vegetables.
The amount of salt is limited (individual quantitative recommendations).
Mandatory abstinence from alcoholic beverages and stimulants.

Products with a reduced content of simple carbohydrates and low calorie content should become the basis of the diet. Recommended for use:

Lean meats and fish.
Dairy products.
Whole grains - oatmeal, buckwheat, wheat, barley, etc.
Rye or whole grain bread, preferably without yeast.
No more than 2 chicken eggs per day.
Legumes - peas, lentils, chickpeas, beans, peas, etc.
Vegetables - radishes, radishes, all types of cabbage and lettuce, red peppers, baked eggplants, spinach, leafy greens, tomatoes, etc.
Fruits and berries - quince, lemons, apples, pears, cranberries, lingonberries, blueberries, etc.

The diet should contain fats of vegetable origin. It is necessary to give up sugar, giving preference to sweeteners or a couple of spoons of honey per day. The method of preparing dishes is baking, boiling, stewing, steaming.

The following products should be excluded from the diet:

Flour, confectionery, butter products, baked goods.
Fatty fish and meats, bacon, canned food, smoked products.
Dairy and some fermented milk products - fatty cheeses, sour cream, cottage cheese, cream.
It is necessary to completely abandon industrial and homemade mayonnaise.
Fruits and dried fruits - raisins, dates, grapes, figs, bananas, etc.

Prevention

If you want to maintain your health for many years, it is worth knowing the signs of high blood sugar in women and how to avoid them. The basis of prevention is physical activity - running, fitness classes, swimming pool, yoga, gym or any other activity that will help avoid physical inactivity, increase metabolism and normalize hormonal levels.

Maintaining a stable work and rest schedule plays a big role in maintaining health. Every person needs to get enough sleep, not get into a state of stress and give up bad habits - smoking, drinking alcohol in large quantities. Equally important is a positive attitude and the ability to experience joy and pleasure in life.

The third pillar of prevention is a balanced diet. It is worth organizing your meal times and strictly adhering to a schedule during the day. One of the important conditions is the complete exclusion of snacking on unhealthy foods and products (chips, carbonated drinks, salted nuts, etc.). They can be replaced by fruits and dried fruits, nuts, vegetables, etc.

Diabetes mellitus is a disease that comes in two types – first and second. In type 1 diabetes, too little insulin is produced, which causes glucose to leave the blood and go into the tissues. In type 2 diabetes, enough insulin is produced, but the tissues are resistant to it. All clinical manifestations of these types of disease, including the picture of complications, arise from the fact that there is elevated blood sugar - hyperglycemia syndrome. How does it manifest itself?

Of course, if your fly is unzipped and a bee is flying nearby, then this is an obvious sign of glucosuria and diabetes. But this only happens in medical jokes. In fact, the symptoms of diabetes are quite varied. But they all stem from hyperglycemia syndrome. Normally, between the ages of 14 and 60 years, the blood sugar level should not exceed 5.9 mmol/liter. There is no gender difference in glucose levels between men and women.

Levels of hyperglycemia vary. In a mild form, the blood plasma glucose level does not exceed 10 mmol/l, in a moderate form it does not exceed 16.5 mmol/l. Before listing the signs of hyperglycemia, you need to say a few words about the causes of its occurrence. Of course, the main reason for its increase is a disease such as diabetes - both in women and men, and even in children. But to come to this conclusion, it is necessary to exclude other causes of increased glucose levels. These include:

Physiological hyperglycemia. All conditions in which the counter-insular hormone, glucagon, is released, and glucose is released from liver glycogen into the blood, can be classified in this group. This is stress, severe emotional stress, high physical activity, smoking and even the release of adrenaline at the time of taking a blood sugar test.
Other endocrine diseases: pheochromocytoma, Cushing's syndrome, acromegaly and thyrotoxicosis.
Diseases of the pancreas, such as acute pancreatitis and exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, as well as tumors of the pancreatic zone.
Antibodies to insulin receptors.
Vascular accidents, such as hemorrhagic stroke.
Myocardial infarction.
In case of taking thiazide diuretics, estrogens (in women), corticosteroid hormones.
Taking large amounts of glucose.

If all causes and options are excluded, then the search for diabetes mellitus begins, since simply an increase in glucose levels has long ceased to be a diagnostic criterion. For example, you need to study the level of glycosylated hemoglobin. But in addition to the above reasons, there is also gestational diabetes, or diabetes during pregnancy. As a rule, with timely detection and treatment, it goes away completely. It develops because the placenta secretes its own hormones, which have a counter-insular (that is, opposite) effect in relation to insulin. Thus, placental hormones increase blood sugar levels.

Symptoms of hyperglycemia

Signs of high blood sugar are:

Thirst, synonym – polydipsia. This is "transient" water and should dilute the plasma glucose concentration as the blood becomes thicker.
Dry mouth, which may occur immediately after quenching thirst.
Polyuria is excessive urination. It should not be confused with frequent urination, which is often the cause of inflammatory diseases of the urinary system. Nocturia also occurs, in which the patient visits the toilet several times during the night.

If a child develops diabetes, it is polyuria that attracts the attention of parents. Its manifestation resembles normal bedwetting. That child who has just learned to control his bladder suddenly loses this ability again and becomes untidy.

Muscular and general weakness occurs, and loss of performance appears.
Skin itching and scratching appear. The itching is especially painful in the genital area.
Abrasions, wounds and all kinds of scratches on the skin do not heal well.
Drowsiness appears, including during the day.
The skin becomes dry, its turgor decreases.
Despite obesity, sometimes pronounced, patients have a constantly increased appetite.
Sometimes severe hyperglycemia is manifested by significant loss of body weight - up to 15 - 20 kg in a short period of time.

If a person does not pay attention to his condition, he may experience a further increase in blood glucose levels. After reaching the level of 16.5 mmol/l, a precomatous state occurs, and then, with exceptionally high glucose levels (more than 50 mmol/l), a coma occurs, which is called hyperosmolar, or diabetic.

This coma develops slowly and gradually. The precomatose period lasts about 10 days. At the same time, increasingly worsening carbohydrate metabolism disorders occur. All of the listed complaints intensify, sometimes patients become lethargic, indifferent and inactive - adynamic. The skin is very dry, facial features are sunken, the eyeballs also become sunken and soft.

Then neurological disorders and manifestations of convulsive syndrome may occur. Blood pressure drops, tachycardia occurs. We can say that dehydration develops, but not due to loss of water, but due to “too sweet” and thick blood. Swelling may develop despite constant thirst. The cause of these edemas will be venous thrombosis.

The most important step in the treatment of this coma will be rehydration and a decrease in the level of osmolarity of the blood plasma (that is, diluting it with a hypotonic solution of sodium chloride). Therefore, you need to carefully monitor the slightest signs of increased blood sugar, since severe complications arise unnoticed, against the background of depression of consciousness.

Glucose is the main supplier of energy needed by the brain, red blood cells, and the kidney medulla. To provide energy to the brain, it is even able to overcome the blood-brain barrier - a semi-permeable barrier between blood and nerve tissue that protects the central nervous system. However, human cells cannot metabolize glucose without insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas.

Blood glucose level is one of the most important medical indicators, showing whether everything is in order with carbohydrate metabolism.

Generally accepted standards

People suffering from diabetes, regardless of the duration of their illness, should take the following measures:

Eat healthy and balanced, carefully choosing foods for your diet
Take medications selected taking into account individual characteristics
Move more and regularly engage in moderate exercise.

Some foods can slightly reduce the concentration of sugar in the body. The list of such products should be discussed with your doctor.

People with diabetes must constantly, that is, every day, monitor their blood sugar and blood sugar levels. It is especially important that these recommendations are followed by children with this diagnosis. If the patient is irresponsible to the symptoms of a sharp increase in blood glucose, he may face a very dangerous condition - diabetic coma.

If there are noticeable signs of rising blood sugar, you should contact a specialized doctor as soon as possible.

A high concentration of glucose in the blood indicates the development of hyperglycemia in a person. The normal sugar level should be no more than 5.5 mmol/l.

If this level is systematically exceeded, we can speak of a pathological condition that has its own signs and symptoms.

Causes of increased blood glucose

Common causes of high blood sugar in a person include:

development of diabetes mellitus;
severe infections;
lack of vitamin B;
local inflammation in a specific organ;
frequent stress;
decreased immunity;
uncontrolled use of medications (corticosteroids, Fentimidine, Rituximab, thiazide diuretics and others);
violation of diet (consumption of high-calorie foods);
inactive lifestyle.

In some cases, there is an increase in glucose concentration due to autoimmune diseases. With them, the human body begins to attack its own cells, perceiving them as foreign. All this provokes hyperglycemia.

Often a person experiences short-term hyperglycemia after eating food. This phenomenon does not pose a threat and is not associated with the development of diabetes.

Possible causes of increased sugar include:

dysfunction of the pancreas;
hereditary diseases;
binge eating;
bad habits (alcohol, smoking).

Obese people are especially susceptible to hyperglycemia - they are at risk of developing diabetes.

In adults

In adults, hyperglycemia occurs for the reasons mentioned above. But the factors influencing the increase in blood glucose levels are often specific and depend on the person’s gender.

Hyperglycemia in women, in addition to general causes, can occur due to:

premenstrual syndrome;
problems with the endocrine system.

In men, as in women, high blood sugar may be associated with the development of a benign tumor called pheochromocytoma. It often develops in people aged 20-40 years and affects the cells of the adrenal glands.

The disease is characterized by excessive release of adrenaline and norepinephrine. In 10% of cases the tumor is malignant. Pheochromocytoma has many symptoms, one of which is increased plasma glucose levels.

Among other causes, hyperglycemia is common in adults with:

diseases of the thyroid gland and pituitary gland;
cancerous tumors;
hepatitis;
cirrhosis;
kidney diseases.

Increased sugar levels often occur in adults who have suffered a stroke or myocardial infarction.

Increased blood glucose concentrations are often observed in athletes. This is due to physical activity, taking stimulants, diuretics, and hormones.

During pregnancy

Pregnant women often experience increased blood sugar levels.

The reasons for this phenomenon may be:

hormonal changes in the body;
development of gestational diabetes mellitus.

In the first case, there is no serious risk for both the mother and her child. Hormonal changes in the body during pregnancy are a normal physiological phenomenon. In the absence of pathologies, hyperglycemia is temporary, and glucose levels subsequently normalize.

Hyperglycemia, which develops against the background of a special type of diabetes - gestagenic, poses a great danger to the health of the pregnant woman and the fetus. This is a specific form of the disease that occurs in pregnant women and often disappears after childbirth.

Progestin-induced diabetes occurs due to excessive activity of the female ovaries, which during pregnancy produce large amounts of the gestagen hormone in the female body. This hormone suppresses the action of insulin and causes high blood sugar.

About 5% of pregnant women are susceptible to the disease. When its signs appear, the expectant mother needs constant monitoring and comprehensive treatment. Without treatment, there is a high risk of losing the child.

Video material about the gestational form of diabetes:

In newborns and children

In newborns, the causes of hyperglycemia differ from the factors that provoke this phenomenon in adults and older children.

The causes of high sugar in newborns are as follows:

due to intravenous administration of glucose into the body of a newborn with low birth weight;
a small amount of a hormone in the body of a newborn (especially if he is premature) that breaks down proinsulin;
low body resistance to insulin itself.

Many newborns are highly susceptible to transient forms of hyperglycemia. Often it occurs due to the introduction of glucocorticosteroids into their body.

Transient hyperglycemia can also occur for other reasons:

due to blood poisoning by a fungus;
due to lack of oxygen in the body;
due to distress syndrome.

Hyperglycemia in children and adolescents occurs mainly for the same reasons as in adults.

Children at risk include:

those who eat incorrectly and inadequately;
experiencing severe stress;
exposed to infections and inflammation due to excessive production of counter-insulin hormones during the growth of the body.

For the reasons mentioned above, adolescents more often develop the “young” form of the disease - type 1 diabetes.

Main features

Increased sugar in the human body makes itself felt by numerous symptoms:

constant thirst;
arrhythmia;
slow wound healing;
sudden weight loss or gain;
constant fatigue;
visual impairment;
periodic occurrence of muscle spasms;
breathing problems (noise occurs, it becomes deep);
dry skin;
frequent urge to urinate;
decreased immunity;
dry mucous membranes;
drowsiness;
increased blood pressure;
headaches, dizziness;
irregular appetite;
the appearance of fungus;
sweating

In men, hyperglycemia may be indicated by weak erections and decreased libido. These symptoms do not always indicate the development of hyperglycemia in a person. Symptoms are extensive and may indicate the development of various diseases in humans. To find out the cause, the patient needs diagnostic testing.

Diagnostic methods

If a patient suspects the development of pathology, a standard set of diagnostic procedures is performed.

These include:

donating blood for analysis;
performing a blood test using the stress method;
study of plasma using a clarifying method.

The patient will not be able to independently identify his pathology if he has high sugar in a weak form. Using a glucometer will not provide reliable information.

The most accurate data can be obtained from a blood test performed on an empty stomach. In professional medicine it is called the orthotoluidine method. The analysis allows you to determine the sugar level and compare it with the established norm.

The analysis is carried out according to the rules:

only in the morning;
only on an empty stomach;
with mandatory avoidance of exercise and medications.

If the study reveals deviations from the normal glucose level in the patient, the specialist prescribes additional tests in the form of stress and clarifying methods.

Each of these methods has its own characteristics.

Table of characteristics of diagnostic methods:

Load method

Clarifying (reducing) method

Involves donating blood in the morning and on an empty stomach

After donating blood, a glucose solution is injected into the body

A few hours later another plasma sample is taken.

The second sample makes it possible to diagnose “hyperglycemia” if the patient has a high glucose level of 11 mmol/l.

Performed as a day hospital

Examines blood for the presence of ergonine, uric acid, creatinine

When these substances are detected, in addition to determining blood sugar levels, the specialist receives information about the patient’s concomitant health problems

The method is used if there is a suspicion that a person has developed kidney disease.

These diagnostic methods make it possible to identify hyperglycemia in a patient, which is often just one of the symptoms of a more serious disease. Elevated sugar often leads to complications in the form of ketoacidosis. If left untreated, hyperglycemia can lead to coma and death for the patient.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that results in impaired absorption of glucose in the body, which in turn leads to an increase in glucose. But, there are other causes of high blood sugar besides diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus is the third most common disease that poses a threat worldwide. In the vast majority of cases, the first and second types of the disease occur.

However, pathology also has specific varieties - Modi, Lada and others. But they are found much less frequently. It is possible that this is also due to the fact that these types of disease are difficult to diagnose and can be easily confused with type 1 or 2 diabetes.

It is necessary to consider the causes of increased blood sugar that do not relate to diabetes. And also find out what symptoms indicate an increase in glucose in the human body?

Physiological increase in sugar

The norm is considered to be sugar content that varies from 3.3 to 5.5 units on an empty stomach. If glucose values reach up to 7.0 units, this indicates the development of a prediabetic state.

In the case when sugar increases above 7.0 units, we can talk about diabetes mellitus. However, it is completely meaningless and incorrect to state any pathology based on one result.

To confirm or refute diabetes, additional tests will be recommended in any case. And based on all the test results, the disease is already diagnosed.

As mentioned above, diabetes mellitus is characterized by increased blood sugar. But this disease is not the only reason that leads to this pathology. In medical practice, physiological and pathological causes of increased glucose are distinguished.

With intense physical activity, prolonged mental stress, and after a meal, the concentration of sugar in the blood increases. This is a natural result of any physiological process in the body.

However, after a certain period of time, since the body independently regulates sugar levels, glucose levels gradually decrease, as a result of which they stabilize within acceptable limits.

A physiological increase in sugar may be based on the following reasons:

Painful shock, acute myocardial infarction.
Moderate to severe burns.
Epileptic seizure.
Severe form of angina.
Impaired liver function, when sugar entering the blood from glycogen cannot be fully absorbed.
Traumatic brain injury, surgical procedure (eg gastric surgery).
Stressful situation, nervous tension.
Fractures, injuries and other injuries.

Stress causes certain hormones to enter the bloodstream, which increase the concentration of sugar in the body. However, when a person calms down, glucose returns to normal on its own.

Taking some medications leads to an increase in blood sugar. For example, birth control pills, steroids, diuretic pills, antidepressants, tranquilizers provoke an increase in sugar as a side effect.

In medical practice, there have been cases where prolonged use of such medications (over two years) led to the development of diabetes mellitus. Therefore, if there is a hereditary factor, you need to carefully study the side effects of all medications taken.

In any case, when the body works fully and it is possible to eradicate the source of the increase in sugar, then glucose is normalized at the required level. If this does not happen, then additional examination is necessary.

Pathological causes of increased sugar

Sugar level

As mentioned above, the causes of high blood sugar may lie in the development of diabetes mellitus, based on physiological etiology (sugar increases for a short period of time).

In addition, in medical practice there are diseases, the occurrence of which directly or indirectly leads to an increase in sugar in the human body.

Definitely, the first place among pathologies is occupied by diabetes mellitus, which leads to an increase in the concentration of sugar in the human body. Diabetes is a disease of the endocrine system when there is a deficiency of pancreatic hormones.

Diabetes mellitus can be confused with other pathologies that also increase sugar levels. Let's look at the diseases in more detail:

Pheochromocytoma is an endocrine pathology that results in the production of large amounts of adrenaline and norepinephrine - these are hormones that increase glucose. A sign of the disease is an increase in blood pressure, and they can vary significantly and reach extreme values. Symptoms: irritability, rapid heartbeat, increased sweating, a state of causeless fear, nervous agitation.
Itsenko-Cushing pathology (problems with the pituitary gland), impaired functionality of the thyroid gland. These ailments lead to a large release of glucose into the blood, and its concentration increases accordingly.
Pancreatic diseases, acute and chronic forms of pancreatitis, tumor formations. When these conditions occur, insulin cannot be fully produced, which leads to the development of secondary diabetes.
Chronic liver diseases - hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, tumor formations in the organ.

As the information listed above shows, there are many diseases that lead to hormonal imbalance in the body, resulting in a pathological increase in sugar.

As a rule, if you carry out adequate drug therapy aimed at eradicating the underlying problem, your blood sugar will soon return to normal.

Symptoms of high sugar

An increase in blood sugar can be asymptomatic, that is, a person does not feel a deterioration in his health, and there are no negative signs or deviations from the norm.

It happens that minor and weakly expressed signs of an increase in sugar concentration are observed. However, people tend to ignore their condition, attributing unusual symptoms to completely different reasons.

In principle, the clinical picture of increased sugar in the human body is quite extensive, and the signs of “sweet blood” can vary significantly depending on the length of the pathology, the age group of the person, and the body’s sensitivity to changes.

Consider the symptoms that are inherent in high blood sugar:

Dry mouth, a constant desire to drink up to 5 liters per day, copious and frequent urination, an increase in the specific gravity of urine per day - these are the most common classic symptoms of high sugar.
General malaise, loss of strength, weakness, lethargy, decreased performance.
Loss of body weight against the background of the same diet.
Skin diseases that are difficult to treat with medication.
Frequent infectious and colds, pustular pathologies.
Unexpected attacks of nausea, vomiting.

Representatives of the fair sex experience itching and burning in the genital area due to a high concentration of sugar. In turn, a chronic increase in glucose in men negatively affects erectile function.

It should be noted that excessive increases in sugar are extremely dangerous, as this leads to numerous complications. If there is a critical increase in sugar over 15 units (can reach 35-40 units), then the patient experiences confusion, hallucinations, and the risk of coma and subsequent death increases.

It is not necessary that one person will experience exactly all the symptoms listed above. And the severity of symptoms can vary significantly.

However, if there are several of these symptoms, this is a reason to consult a doctor. It is he who will be able to differentiate the disease and make the correct diagnosis.

How to differentiate the disease?

It is quite simple to differentiate the physiological cause of increased sugar from the pathological etiology. As a rule, a disease is not judged by one blood test, which shows an excess of indicators.

If the first analysis showed an excess of normal values, the doctor will definitely prescribe a repeat test. When the cause was a physiological increase in sugar (stress, or the patient did not follow the recommendations before the study), then the second result will be within the acceptable norm.

Along with this, in order to differentiate chronic diabetes mellitus or prediabetic condition, characterized by an increase in glucose concentration in the human body, the following studies may be recommended:

Examination of biological fluid on an empty stomach. You must not eat food for at least 10 hours before the test. As a rule, several samplings are carried out on different days, after which the results are deciphered and compared.
A test that determines sensitivity to sugar. Initially, blood is taken from the patient on an empty stomach, after which a sugar load is administered and biological fluid is taken again after 30, 60, 120 minutes.
provide the opportunity to track sugar in a person’s body over the past three months.

If glycated hemoglobin is up to 5.7%, this means that carbohydrate metabolism is working fully, the risk of developing diabetes is reduced to zero. If the results vary from 5.7 to 6%, the probability of developing diabetes is high, you need to switch to a low-carbohydrate diet.

If a study of glycated hemoglobin shows a percentage of 6.1 to 6.4%, then the risk of diabetes is high, a prediabetic state is diagnosed, and a strict diet is prescribed. Above 6.5% is diabetes. The video in this article will tell you what to do if you have diabetes.