What are the signs of blood sugar? High blood sugar: symptoms and first signs

Hyperglycemia (increased blood sugar levels) occurs with various physiological and pathological changes in the body and this is in most cases associated with impaired carbohydrate metabolism. Therefore, it is important to notice the first signs of increased blood glucose in time and consult a specialist.

All cells of the human body contain sugar (glucose), which is their main source of energy, this is especially important for the normal functioning of red blood cells and nerve cells. In order for the blood glucose level to be within physiological limits (from 3.3 to 5.5 mmol/l), it is regulated by the physiological processes of carbohydrate metabolism and the interaction of the nervous and endocrine systems.

When blood sugar levels rise, at first no changes are felt or the patient does not attach any importance to them, but at the same time destructive changes occur in his body. Therefore, to stay healthy, you need to know what symptoms may appear when blood glucose levels increase.

How do you know if your blood sugar is high?

The main signs that warn of high blood sugar are:

increased frequency of urination with an increase in the amount of urine produced;

constant strong thirst and dry mouth, including at night;

fatigue, lethargy and severe weakness;

nausea, rarely vomiting;

persistent headaches;

sudden weight loss;

A sharp deterioration in vision may occur.

If there are significant fluctuations in blood glucose levels:

when it drops below 3.1 mmol/l;

with an increase of more than 30 mmol/l;

Life-threatening conditions may develop, which are manifested by convulsions, respiratory and cardiac problems. Therefore, it is important to consult a doctor promptly if you experience symptoms that may indicate hyperglycemia.

Fatigue may indicate high blood sugar

Causes of high blood sugar

Blood glucose levels may change:

Short-term during physiological processes in the body (increased physical activity, stressful situations), which is associated with an increase in energy metabolism in cells or when consuming large amounts of carbohydrates in food;

Short-term in pathological conditions:

with increased body temperature (viral, bacterial and colds);

with persistent pain syndrome;

for burns;

against the background of the development of an epileptic seizure.

A persistent increase in blood sugar may occur:

in pathological processes of the gastrointestinal tract;

with liver pathology;

for inflammatory diseases of the endocrine glands (pancreas, hypothalamus, adrenal glands and pituitary gland);

with hormonal imbalance due to the development of endocrinopathies and during pregnancy.

Also one of the reasons for a persistent and long-term increase in blood sugar is diabetes mellitus.

Blood sugar may rise due to a stressful situation

Symptoms of high blood sugar

Signs of high blood sugar appear gradually, and in most cases loved ones notice them earlier.

These symptoms may include:

increased appetite (polyphagia) with a constant feeling of hunger and persistent loss of body weight;

drowsiness, blurred vision, severe weakness with irritability and sullenness;

numbness of hands and feet;

the occurrence of skin itching, dermatitis, furunculosis;

slow wound healing;

frequent, recurrent inflammatory diseases of the female genital area (bacterial and fungal vaginal infections, causeless vaginal itching and impotence.

Symptoms of hidden diabetes

Often, an increase in blood sugar occurs without the manifestation of the main symptoms and signs. And patients feel absolutely normal for a long time, but at the same time a latent form of diabetes develops in the body (latent diabetes).

This disease is often diagnosed during preventive examinations or when patients present with other complaints - frequent fatigue, decreased vision or slow healing of wounds and the addition of purulent inflammation.

An increase in blood glucose levels significantly reduces immunity, and the body becomes vulnerable to the development of various infections, and damage to small vessels (microangiopathy) causes disruption of normal tissue nutrition and very slow healing of various damage to the skin and mucous membranes.

Latent diabetes can be detected by performing carbohydrate tolerance tests.

Risk groups for diabetes include:

women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome;

people with low levels of potassium in the blood, this disease develops especially often in patients with arterial hypertension, due to the fact that increased pressure contributes to frequent urination and the removal of potassium from the body;

patients who are overweight or obese;

with a hereditary predisposition to the development of diabetes;

women who have had a temporary form of diabetes during pregnancy.

If an increase in blood sugar caused by an increase in glucose tolerance (prediabetes) is detected in time and the necessary measures are taken to eliminate it, the development of the disease can be avoided.

How to eliminate signs of high blood sugar?

The presence of signs of increased blood sugar requires timely examination, determination of the cause and the prescription of high-quality treatment, otherwise irreversible changes in tissues and organs may develop in the patient’s body - vascular diseases, neuropathy, sluggish infectious processes, skin diseases, sleep disorders and depressive states.

Therefore, if one or more specific symptoms appear, you should consult a general practitioner, and then an endocrinologist.

This visit will help determine what causes the increase in blood sugar, whether drug therapy, herbal preparations are necessary, or whether it is enough to change your diet and lifestyle. In most cases, the correct approach to nutrition, the elimination of stressful situations and uniform physical activity make it possible to reduce blood sugar to normal levels.

High sugar in diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is manifested by the main clinical symptoms:

dry mouth and thirst (polydipsia);

frequent, excessive urination (polyuria), sometimes exceeding three liters of urine per day;

increased appetite (polyphagia) with progressive weight loss.

Diabetes mellitus or diabetes mellitus is characterized by a long-term persistent increase in blood sugar, and when certain levels are exceeded, glucose appears in the urine.

This disease also manifests itself with additional symptoms - increased fatigue, drowsiness, decreased performance, persistent headaches, irritability, various types of sleep disorders, dizziness, itchy skin, bright red cheeks, night pain in the limbs and cramps of the calf muscles. Numbness of the extremities, paresthesia, attacks, nausea, less often vomiting, cramping abdominal pain, and an increased tendency to inflammatory diseases of the skin, mouth, urinary tract, and kidneys, which often transform into a chronic form, may be observed.

Diabetes mellitus in pregnant women

Hormonal changes occur in a woman's body during pregnancy and this leads to the development of physiological immunity of many tissues to the action of insulin and the development of diabetes mellitus in pregnant women.

This pathological condition is classified as a separate form of diabetes mellitus - gestational diabetes, which is first diagnosed by laboratory parameters during pregnancy and, as a rule, occurs without clinical manifestations.

Therefore, it is especially important to prescribe and monitor blood sugar levels in pregnant women. It is important to remember that with the development of this pathology in the early stages of pregnancy, there may be a danger of the formation of multiple malformations in the fetus (diabetic fetopathy), often incompatible with life, which lead to early miscarriages. With late onset of diabetes mellitus in a pregnant woman and/or in the absence of normalization of elevated blood glucose levels, organic damage to the fetal organs may develop - congenital cataracts, heart defects, cerebral palsy.

Diabetes in pregnant women occurs due to hormonal changes in the body

Pregnant women at risk include:

with a family predisposition (diabetes mellitus in close relatives);

with obesity;

with arterial hypertension;

with a history of chronic miscarriage;

patients whose pregnancy occurs against the background of polycystic ovary syndrome or mastopathy.

Diabetes mellitus in pregnant women most often develops in the period from the 4th to the 8th month of pregnancy, so women at risk need to be examined by an endocrinologist and constantly monitor their blood sugar.

Diabetes mellitus in children

In childhood, a severe form of diabetes develops - type 1 diabetes, and the incidence of this pathology is growing from year to year. Therefore, if there are any signs of increased blood sugar in a child, it is necessary to consult the baby with a doctor and examine the child. The severity of the diagnosis is associated with a long asymptomatic period of diabetes mellitus in childhood and the manifestation of symptoms of the disease in a severe degree with the development of comatose states, damage to the blood vessels of the eyes, nervous system, oral mucosa and skin.

If a person is completely healthy, nothing will bother him. However, today, unfortunately, there are very few such people. In this article I would like to talk about such a problem as high blood sugar. Why does this happen, and how to behave correctly in this case?

Main

The cells of the human body will definitely contain sugar. However, it is very important that it does not exceed permissible limits. If we talk about numbers, then glucose should not “step over” the 100 ml per deciliter mark. If the readings are slightly too high, the patient may not feel anything. However, with a pathological increase in sugar, certain symptoms appear. It is also important to say that a one-time increase in blood sugar is not an indicator that the patient has a disease such as diabetes.

Where does sugar come from?

Doctors say that there are two main sources of increased blood sugar.

Carbohydrates that enter the body with food.
Glucose, which passes from the liver (the so-called “depot” of sugar in the body) into the blood.

Symptoms

If a patient has high blood sugar, the symptoms may be as follows.

Copious and fairly frequent urination. In medical practice this is called polyuria. If sugar exceeds a certain level, the kidneys begin to actively work and remove excess fluid from the body. In this case, the following symptom occurs.
Intense thirst. If a person is constantly thirsty and cannot get drunk, this is a reason to consult a doctor. Since this is the first symptom of high blood sugar.
Skin itching.
If a patient has high blood sugar, symptoms may also affect the genitourinary system. So, this may be itching in the groin, as well as discomfort in the genital area. The reason for this is frequent urination, which can lead to the proliferation of various microbes in the genital area. Inflammation of the foreskin in men and vaginal itching in women are also important symptoms that may indicate elevated sugar levels.
In patients with high blood sugar, scratches do not heal for a long time. The situation is even worse with wounds.
Another sign of high blood sugar is an electrolyte imbalance. This happens because microelements important for the body are washed out in the patient’s urine. In this case, the following symptoms may be observed: muscle and calf cramps, as well as problems in the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
If a patient has high blood sugar, the symptoms will be as follows: lethargy, loss of strength, drowsiness. The thing is that with elevated sugar, glucose is not absorbed by the body, and accordingly, a person has nowhere to get a charge of strength and energy.
Another symptom is a constant feeling of hunger and, as a result, weight gain.

Causes

What can cause high blood sugar? What reasons do doctors identify for this problem in this case?

Hereditary factor or genetic predisposition. Those. If the patient has had similar diseases in his family, he is at risk.
Autoimmune diseases (the body begins to perceive its own tissues as foreign, attacking and damaging them).
Obesity (can be both a cause and a consequence of increased blood sugar).
Physical and mental injuries. Most often, blood sugar increases after experiencing stress or strong experiences.
Impaired blood supply to the pancreas.

Target organs

So, high blood sugar. The symptoms of this disease are clear. What will be the first impact of this glucose surge? So, the eyes, kidneys, and also limbs can suffer the most from this. Problems arise due to the fact that the vessels that supply these organs are affected.

Eyes. If the patient experiences an increase in blood sugar, the symptoms will affect the eyes. So, with a long-term condition, the patient may experience retinal detachment, then optic nerve atrophy will develop, followed by glaucoma. And the most terrible scenario is complete irreparable blindness.
Kidneys. It is important to say that these are the most basic excretory organs. They help remove excess glucose from the body in the early stages of the disease. If there is too much sugar, the renal vessels are injured, the integrity of their capillaries is disrupted, and the kidneys are doing their job worse and worse every day. If the increase in sugar is severe, then proteins, red blood cells and other substances important for the body are also excreted along with the urine, which leads to the development of kidney failure.
Limbs. Signs of high blood sugar may also affect the patient's extremities. The condition of the blood capillaries of the legs worsens, as a result of which various types of inflammatory processes can occur, which lead to the development of wounds, gangrene and tissue necrosis.

Short-term causes of high blood sugar

The patient may also experience elevated glucose levels (high blood sugar) for a short period of time. The following conditions may cause symptoms.

Pain syndrome.
Acute myocardial infarction.
Epilepsy attacks.
Burns.
Liver damage (which leads to glucose not being fully synthesized).
Traumatic brain injuries, when the hypothalamus is primarily affected.
Stressful conditions that cause the release of hormones into the blood.

In addition to the above problems, a short-term increase in sugar can be caused by taking certain medications (thiazide diuretics, glucocorticoids), as well as oral contraceptives, psychotropic substances and diuretics. If you take these drugs for a long time, a disease such as diabetes may develop.

Tolerance test

As it was said earlier, if a patient has elevated blood sugar levels, this does not mean that he has a disease such as diabetes. However, it is best to consult a doctor at the first symptoms. After all, if you start timely treatment, you can avoid irreversible processes. So, in this case, the doctor will refer the patient for tests, the main one of which will be a tolerance test. By the way, this study is indicated not only for patients with symptoms of high sugar, but also for the following categories of people:

those who are overweight;
patients whose age exceeds 45 years.

The essence of the analysis

The test must be carried out with the presence of pure glucose in the amount of 75 g (it can be bought at the pharmacy). The procedure for this will be as follows.

The patient donates blood on an empty stomach.
After this, drinks a glass of water containing the required amount of glucose.
After two hours, the blood is donated again (this analysis is often carried out not in two, but in three stages).

Conditions

In order for the test results to be correct, the patient must fulfill a list of simple but important conditions.

You can't eat in the evening. It is important that at least 10 hours pass from the last meal to the first blood test. Ideally - 12 hours.
On the day before the test, you should not load your body. Sports and heavy physical activity are excluded.
There is no need to change your diet before taking the test. The patient must eat all those foods that he consumes regularly.
It is necessary to avoid stress and emotional overstrain.
The test must be taken after the body has rested. After working a night shift, the test results will be distorted.
On the day of donating blood, it is also best not to overexert yourself. It is better to spend the day at home in a calm environment.

Test results

The test results are very important.

The diagnosis of “impaired tolerance” can be made if the level is less than 7 mmol per liter on an empty stomach, as well as 7.8 - 11.1 mmol per 1 liter after drinking a solution with glucose.
The diagnosis of “impaired fasting glucose” can be made if fasting values are in the range of 6.1 - 7.0 mmol/l, and after taking a special solution - less than 7.8 mmol/l.

However, in this case, do not panic. To confirm the results, you will have to do another ultrasound of the pancreas, take a blood test and test for the presence of enzymes. If you follow all the doctor’s recommendations and at the same time adhere to a special diet, the signs of high blood sugar may soon disappear.

Prevention

In order not to encounter such a problem as high blood sugar, a person must adhere to special preventive measures. So, a special diet that must be adhered to will be very important.

If the patient is overweight, the diet should be low-calorie. At the same time, proteins and fats should be present in the menu every day. Carbohydrates should not enter the body in excessive quantities.
If you have high sugar levels, you need to eat food often and in small portions.
You need to completely avoid foods such as crackers, chips, fast food, and sweet carbonated water.
You need to monitor the amount of calories you consume. If a person leads an active lifestyle and plays sports, the diet should contain a normal amount of calories. Otherwise, food should be low-calorie.
It is better to consume boiled and stewed foods. You need to avoid fried foods, smoked foods, and alcohol. You should especially avoid flour products, sweets and alcohol.
Food should contain a minimum amount of salt and animal fats.
The last meal should be no later than two hours before bedtime.
Drinks include coffee and tea without sugar, you can also take herbal teas and freshly squeezed juices.

If a person's blood sugar levels have increased, it is best to consult a doctor. However, you can also cope with this problem yourself. To do this, it is enough to use traditional medicine.

Collection. To lower blood sugar, you need to take one part flaxseed and two parts of the following ingredients: bean pods, dried blueberry leaves, and oat straw. All this is crushed. To prepare the medicine, you need to take three tablespoons of the mixture, pour 600 ml of boiling water, and simmer over low heat for about 20 minutes. After this, the liquid is filtered and cooled. It is taken three tablespoons three times a day before meals.
Dandelion. If a patient has a slight increase in blood sugar, he needs to eat about 7 baskets of dandelion daily.
To ensure that your sugar is always normal, you need to grind one tablespoon of buckwheat in a coffee grinder, pour it all over with a glass of kefir, and let it sit overnight. In the morning, the medicine is drunk half an hour before meals.

A periodic or constant increase in blood sugar, which is a sign of insufficient absorption by tissues or insulin deficiency, negatively affects the functioning of internal organs, blood vessels and nerve fibers.

Until a certain time, elevated blood sugar does not manifest itself with specific symptoms, although irreversible destructive processes in the most vulnerable organs - the heart, blood vessels, and visual organs - may already begin in the body. Controlling sugar levels and preventing them from rising to dangerous levels is the most accessible measure to prevent diabetes.

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Classmates

Sometimes an impending disease is nevertheless “declassified”, and when blood sugar is elevated, it is signaled by quite distinct symptoms (signs). These manifestations are almost the same among representatives of the opposite sexes.

It is believed that diabetes mellitus has more dangerous consequences for women than for men, since the former quickly lose their vision, lose emotional balance, and turn into “hysterical individuals.” They are much more likely to experience complications from the genitourinary system. Strong thirst (polydipsia), increased appetite against the background of rapid weight loss, increased diuresis, dry mucous membranes - these are the symptoms that occur in a woman with high sugar.

The first sign of high blood sugar in men is usually an increase in the volume of urine produced (polyuria). The consequence of frequent urination is gradual dehydration of the body, leading to irresistible thirst. These are the most characteristic signs of increased blood sugar, which are symptoms in men. In addition, obesity or, conversely, weight loss, irritability or apathy, prolonged festering of wounds and increased fatigue may occur.

Main symptoms of diabetes

Signs of a sharp increase

When a sudden and sharp increase in blood sugar, usually occurring as an initial symptom of type I diabetes, the patient's condition is life-threatening. It is accompanied by:

sudden fatigue;
increased heart rate;
drop in blood pressure;
often - epigastric pain;
blurred vision;
dry skin, tongue and mucous membranes;
smell of acetone from the mouth;
skin itching;
drowsiness, slow reflexes, fainting.

Both the sick person and the people around him should know what to do in circumstances when sugar is elevated, especially if this happens suddenly.

Why does it increase?

Elevated significantly higher, manifested by characteristic symptoms, is called hyperglycemia. To understand how to treat this condition, it is necessary to find the cause of hyperglycemia. A high sugar level does not always indicate the onset of diabetes, but this factor is at the top of the list of reasons for an increase in this indicator. Several other factors that cause blood sugar to rise:

vitamin deficiency due to deficiency of biotin, vitamin B7;
eating disorders, gluttony (often with bulimia nervosa, manifested by an uncontrollable passion for satiety);
drug therapy with corticosteroids, protease inhibitors, fentamidine, niacin, thiazide diuretics, beta-blockers, some antidepressants, antitumor drugs from the group of monoclonal bodies;
non-diabetic hyperglycemia due to stress after a stroke or myocardial infarction;
inflammatory, infectious or organ diseases accompanied by a decrease in tissue insulin resistance (atherosclerosis, hypertension, coronary artery disease, etc.);
chronic insufficiency of the adrenal cortex.

It is possible to determine exactly why sugar increases only through careful differential diagnosis, medical history, and testing.

What does a high level mean and why is it dangerous?

Let's take a closer look at the issue of high blood sugar. As noted above, when this indicator becomes sharply elevated, it means that hyperglycemia has developed and the question arises of how to treat it.

Normally, 2 groups of hormones regulate blood sugar levels:

insulin is the only hormone that has hypoglycemic (sugar-lowering) properties;
hyperglycemic (increasing sugar) - growth and adrenal hormones (glucocorticosteroids), glucagon.

Insulin, to a greater or lesser extent, affects all parts of metabolic processes in the body, the first of which is carbohydrate. This process provides the body with energy to carry out all other functions - blood circulation, breathing, movement, etc. Activation of insulin production by the endocrine cells of the pancreas occurs when the sugar content rises, from which the tissues acquire the ability to absorb this carbohydrate.

Mechanism of action of insulin

At what indicators is the level considered high? To answer this question, let’s remember the normal ranges: 3.5–5.5. Indicators that are above the upper limit of the reference range are considered elevated.

Most patients understand that if blood sugar is elevated in the results of a blood test, something needs to be done to stabilize it, but few understand why an elevated level is dangerous. Persistently elevated plasma sugar potentiates disruption of all types of metabolism:

protein;
fat;
carbohydrate;
water-salt and mineral.

Having acquired a chronic course, hyperglycemia progresses to diabetes mellitus, which threatens such multiple organ disorders as:

diabetic angiopathy, including increased fragility and permeability of blood vessels, atherosclerosis, thrombosis, coronary disease, encephalopathy;
diabetic foot syndrome - trophic ulcers, pain in the calf muscles, destruction of the joints and bones of the feet due to poor circulation in the lower extremities;
nephropathy – damage to the vessels of the kidneys, with disruption of their functions up to failure (observed in 40-45% of patients 15-20 years after diagnosis);
retinopathy - damage to the blood vessels of the eyes, destruction of the retina and its detachment, leading to loss of vision, is found in 80-95% of patients
polyneuropathy – damage to peripheral nerve endings, leading to impaired sensitivity, chilliness and swelling of the extremities, paresthesia (a feeling of “crawling goosebumps”, tingling or burning on the skin), occurs in 75% of patients.

Of all these unpleasant consequences of diabetes, a pathological condition called “diabetic foot” stands out. As a result of progressive damage to the vessels of the extremities and the formation of trophic ulcers, patients develop infection of soft tissues and purulent-necrotic processes (gangrene), in severe cases leading to amputation of the limb.

Loss of limbs, loss of vision, kidney failure – the list of consequences of diabetes is daunting, but it doesn’t end there.

If glucose concentrations suddenly increase to dangerous levels, a person may fall into a hyperglycemic coma. In some cases this ends in death. That's why if you have high sugar levels, you should do everything necessary to regulate its concentration in the blood.

Decoding glucose content

When we talk about blood glucose, it means the same as sugar content, since glucose is the end product of the breakdown of carbohydrates, which serves as the most convenient source of energy for the body. To give an idea of dangerous blood glucose levels, let's compare different blood sugar test results.

Those with this result of a blood sugar test need not worry - the value of 5 mmol/l is within the reference values and does not require correction. In the units of measurement adopted in many countries of the world - milligrams per deciliter - this figure corresponds to 90 mg/dl.

Test strips for glucometer

A reading of 6 mmol/l is also normal, but is a borderline value. This means there is a risk of having high blood sugar in the future. In international units of measurement, the figure corresponds to 108 mg/dl. If such a value is detected, in-depth blood tests may be required.

If the sugar result is 7 mmol/l, this is increased glucose, which, as a rule, means diabetic onset in an adult. In milligrams per deciliter, this is 126 mg/dL. The condition refers to mild hyperglycemia. Confirmation of diabetes mellitus requires mandatory additional studies:

blood stress test for glucose tolerance;
for glucose and ketone bodies in urine;
on insulin and C-peptide in the blood.

The most complete diagnostic picture of diabetes mellitus is provided by the analysis of glycated hemoglobin - the average value of blood sugar determined over 3-4 months.

A value of 8 mmol/l (or 144 mg/dl) indicates moderate hyperglycemia and requires immediate action. An endocrinologist, neurologist or therapist will explain what a person should do with such results, depending on what caused the high sugar.

What to do?

If test results show high blood sugar, this does not necessarily mean that a person needs drug treatment. Making a decision on prescribing hypoglycemic drugs or insulin is the prerogative of a specialist, so the first thing to do when characteristic symptoms and increased sugar concentrations are detected is to consult a doctor. All further actions should be agreed with a medical specialist.

If a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus has already been made, drug therapy is being carried out, but the sugar level still has jumped, all the more so you should seek the help of your doctor in order to avoid life-threatening situations. Such patients should adhere to the following rules before visiting a doctor:

keep glucose levels under control at all times;
drink more water;
and to a minimum;
if glucose is not higher than 14-15 mmol/l, engage in feasible physical activity;
if the glucose level is above 15 mmol/l, you should refrain from physical activity.

When blood sugar is very high (20-33 mmol/l), and it rises spontaneously, the first thing to do is call an ambulance.

Treatment of hyperglycemia, as a rule, consists of a set of comprehensive measures to reduce blood glucose levels, improve metabolism or eliminate the causes of high sugar:

if it was provoked by taking medications, find an adequate replacement for these drugs that does not have such side effects;
when the cause lies in somatic or other diseases, treat them;
if the impetus for the increase was overeating, connect the mechanisms of diet regulation ();
To improve metabolism and normalize body weight, individually selected physical therapy is recommended.

Hormone replacement therapy with insulin is prescribed only when type I diabetes is diagnosed.

The issue of prescribing medications should not be decided by the sick person on their own - the types of medications, as well as their dosage, can only be selected by a doctor.

Since glucose is absorbed by the body only through the hormone (insulin), no food is possible. Therefore, if intensive glycemic control is necessary, one should rely solely on the tenets of evidence-based medicine. To effectively control blood sugar, medicine uses a number of antidiabetic, or hypoglycemic, agents:

insulin preparations intended for intramuscular administration;
meglitinides – active ingredients nateglinide, repaglinide;
alpha-glucosidase inhibitors – miglitol, acarbose;
thiazolidinediones – pioglitazone, rosiglitazone, diaglitazone, etc.;
biguanides – metformin, buformin;
sulfonylurea derivatives - glipizide, gliquidone, chlorpropamide, etc.

The drugs listed below insulin are intended for oral administration in type II diabetes.

Due to a hormonal imbalance, pregnant women may develop a special type of hyperglycemia - gestational diabetes. In this case, glycemia remains normal on an empty stomach, but increases sharply after eating. Such changes in blood sugar are unsafe for the intrauterine development of the fetus, since they can be complicated by abnormalities of the brain and cardiovascular system in the child. In order to identify pathology in advance, pregnant women are shown a glucose tolerance test at 24-28 weeks.

No special preparations should be made for the procedure of collecting a blood sample for sugar. The test is taken on an empty stomach; you cannot have breakfast on the day of blood donation. A few days before the procedure, follow your usual diet, normal lifestyle, and preferably, do not fast, so as not to provoke a false increase in glucose due to its compensatory production by the liver. Restrictions apply only to actions on the eve of taking blood samples:

do not eat or drink sugary drinks 8-10 hours before donating blood;
limit physical and emotional stress 2-3 hours before the procedure;
On the day of taking the test, do not eat, you can drink, but only clean water.

Any other drinks (tea, juice) drunk before a visit to the laboratory can distort the results of the analysis.

A home blood sugar monitor is helpful for monitoring blood sugar. Today, portable glucometers for private use are popular. These devices are equipped with a glucose oxidase biosensor that can calculate blood glucose levels (glycemia) within seconds. There are several types of glucometers from the first to the latest generations. Included with the measuring device, as a rule, there are additional means of manipulation - scarifiers for pricking a finger, semi-automatic syringe pens for dosed administration of insulin, replaceable cartridges with the active substance. There are devices that measure blood sugar levels without puncture.

Useful video

The video will tell you about the need for an integrated approach to the problem of high blood sugar:

Conclusion

Blood sugar that is much higher than normal is called hyperglycemia.
The causes of hyperglycemia may be disturbances in carbohydrate metabolism and hormonal balance, somatic, endocrine and infectious diseases, taking certain medications, and chronic overeating.
Treatment of hyperglycemia is a complex of measures, including drug therapy, diet and lifestyle improvements.

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Symptoms of high blood sugar in women may indicate more than just the development of diabetes. Throughout life, the female body undergoes a number of dramatic changes. The perinatal period and childbirth, possible termination of pregnancy (artificial or spontaneous), premenopause, menopause, all of this, one way or another, affects the health of the hormonal system.

In addition, according to statistics, women are more prone to obesity, which is one of the causes of hyperglycemia (high sugar). An incorrect approach to the fight against extra pounds can also disrupt the stability of glucose levels in the body. Due to hormonal imbalances, the body is able to respond inadequately to the production of its own hormone insulin and glucose supplied with food. Thus, a carbohydrate metabolism disorder develops, against the background of which blood sugar levels increase.

Blood sugar levels for women

Standard indicators for women of reproductive age should fall within the range of 3.3 to 5.5 mmol/l (millimoles per liter is the value adopted in Russia for recording sugar indicators). Depending on age, sugar values increase slightly. This is not a pathology, since it is caused by an age-related decrease in tissue sensitivity to insulin.

Predicted increase in glycemia in women

During the perinatal period, blood sugar in women may increase due to an increase in the level of steroid hormones, which inhibit the production of insulin at the cellular level. Also, the cause of an increase in glucose levels may be temporary insulin resistance, which occurs due to excessive load on the pancreas in the process of providing the fetus with nutrition. If sugar levels are consistently elevated, a pregnant woman is prescribed an additional examination to determine gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

An increase in indicators during menopause is also associated with changes in the synthesis and absorption of hormones. At the age of 50+, a woman’s functionality of the ovaries to produce the sex hormones progesterone and estrogen, as well as thyroid hormones, decreases. The sex hormone estradiol is replaced by estrone, synthesized by fat cells. Involuntary fat deposition occurs. Insulin synthesis, on the contrary, increases.

With such a hormonal imbalance, it becomes difficult for the body to keep metabolic processes under control. A woman is actively gaining weight, which serves as a trigger for the development of type 2 diabetes. In most cases, diabetes during menopause is caused by obesity. To detect diabetes mellitus, a comprehensive laboratory diagnosis is carried out, including several tests.

Laboratory manifestations

When conducting basic microscopy of blood for quantitative sugar content, venous or capillary blood is analyzed, which the patient donates on an empty stomach. This is the main condition for obtaining objective data, since when any food is processed, the level of glucose in the blood increases.

Important! A one-time increase in sugar levels requires repeated analysis. For stable hyperglycemia, extended diagnostics are prescribed.

Additional tests include glucose tolerance testing (GTT), blood to determine the level of HbA1C (glycated hemoglobin). The glucose tolerance test is aimed at determining the degree to which the body absorbs it. If the values deviate from the norm, the woman is diagnosed with prediabetes. Testing consists of two blood draws:

on an empty stomach:
two hours after loading.

The load is an aqueous solution of glucose in the ratio of 75 g of the substance per 200 ml of water. The results obtained are compared with the table of standard indicators. Glycated (glycosylated) hemoglobin is a “sweet protein” that is formed by the interaction of hemoglobin and glucose. HbA1C analysis determines the retrospective level of sugar in the blood, assessing the time period of 120 past days.

Norm and deviations

A slight increase with age is normal. A borderline state, when sugar levels are elevated but do not reach diabetic levels, indicates the development of prediabetes. It is not classified as a separate disease, but poses a real threat of degeneration into true non-insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes. Timely detected prediabetes is reversible without drug treatment.

Changing eating behavior and lifestyle helps stop the development of endocrine pathology (diabetes mellitus) of the second type. The frequency of scheduled examinations for sugar is determined by the timing of mandatory medical examination - once every three years. During the perinatal period, the expectant mother is tested during each screening.

Obese people, as well as women at menopausal age (50+), are recommended to monitor their sugar annually. Hyperglycemia rarely manifests itself suddenly and clearly. Women attribute their ailments to fatigue, pregnancy, menopause, etc., when in fact they develop prediabetes or true diabetes, which occurs in a latent form.

Feeling unwell is a reason to seek medical help and find out your blood sugar levels

Symptoms to watch out for

Signs that may indicate elevated blood sugar levels may appear with varying intensity. The primary symptom is most often polydipsia or a permanent feeling of thirst. Glucose molecules attract moisture, so when they are in excess, dehydration occurs. In an effort to replenish fluid deficiency, the body constantly requires its replenishment from the outside.

Important! Constant thirst, not associated with the consumption of salty foods, is an alarming sign of hyperglycemia.

An equally important symptom, which many women do not attach importance to, is rapid physical fatigue. Decreased work capacity and tone, general weakness occur due to insulin resistance. Tissues and cells lose the ability to fully perceive and use insulin, as a result of which they are left without glucose, the main source of nutrition and energy. This also includes drowsiness that occurs after eating.

The food eaten is broken down into its component nutrients, and the resulting glucose accumulates in the blood and is not consumed as an energy resource. A woman does not have enough strength for physical and mental activity. A lack of brain nutrition leads to a violation of neuropsychological stability, insomnia appears at night. Thus, dysania (sleep disorder) occurs when you want to sleep during the day, but at night you cannot sleep. This provokes a feeling of chronic fatigue.

Other symptoms of hyperglycemia include:

Pollakiuria (frequent urge to urinate). When there is an abundance of glucose and its proper absorption is impaired, the process of reabsorption of fluid by the renal apparatus slows down, therefore the volume of urine excreted increases. Constantly quenching thirst also causes frequent emptying of the bladder.
Frequent headaches caused by increased blood pressure (BP). Due to the interaction of large amounts of sugar and water, the composition of the blood changes and its normal circulation is disrupted. The process of destruction of the smallest capillaries occurs. Given the unstable functioning of the kidneys, the body cannot cope with the load, which leads to a hypertensive reaction.
Polyphagia (increased appetite). The feeling of satiety, neuroendocrine brain activity and body homeostasis are regulated by a small region of the brain, the hypothalamus. Control is carried out by the quantity and quality of insulin produced by the pancreas. Due to insufficient production of the hormone or the inability of cells to fully perceive and implement it, the hypothalamus loses the ability to control appetite.
Hyperkeratosis (decreased protective and regenerative qualities of the skin, and thickening of the stratum corneum of the skin on the feet). A high concentration of sugar and an excess of ketone bodies (poisonous products of glucose metabolism) lead to a loss of elasticity of the epidermis, the skin becomes thin and dry. Due to disruption of the outflow of tissue fluid, the skin loses its regenerative qualities. Even minor injuries (scratches, abrasions) take a long time to scar and are easily infected by pathogenic microorganisms. As a result, a process of suppuration develops that is difficult to treat.
Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating). High blood sugar levels negatively affect the functioning of the central nervous system (CNS) and autonomic system. The regulation of heat exchange and the functioning of the sweat glands are disrupted. This symptom is especially pronounced in women during menopause.
Systematic colds and viral infections. Frequent illnesses are caused by decreased immunity. Inadequate functioning of the body's defenses is associated with a lack of vitamin C. In its chemical structure, ascorbic acid is similar to glucose, therefore, with hyperglycemia, one substance is replaced by another and the cells of the immune system mistakenly begin to use glucose instead of vitamin C.
Vaginal infections (candidiasis, vaginal dysbiosis). Against the background of hyperglycemia and low immunity, the homeostasis of the vaginal microflora is disrupted, the pH of the mucous membrane shifts to the alkaline side.
NOMC (ovarian-menstrual cycle disorders). Irregularity of menstruation is associated with a general imbalance in a woman’s hormonal levels.

The inability to control eating behavior leads to overeating and gaining extra pounds.

External manifestations of elevated sugar levels are changes in the structure of nails and hair, and the appearance of pigment spots on the face. Impaired metabolism prevents the normal absorption of micro- and macroelements and vitamins, which causes fragility of the nail plates and hair. If you neglect the primary signs of high sugar, symptoms of central nervous system destabilization will subsequently appear:

psycho-emotional instability and unmotivated irritability;
deterioration of visual perception;
memory disorder;
absent-mindedness;
ataxia (impaired coordination);
asthenia (neuropsychological weakness).

Somatic manifestations of progressive deterioration in health include:

decreased sensory sensitivity;
uncontrolled muscle contractions of the lower extremities (convulsions);
paresthesia (numbness of the legs);
increased heart rate (tachycardia);
joint pain not associated with inflammatory diseases of the skeletal system (arthralgia);
spider veins on the legs (telangiectasia) and itchy skin;
decreased libido (sexual desire).

In the future, hyperglycemia becomes dangerous for the woman’s reproductive system. Hormonal imbalance interferes with the natural ability to conceive a child. As diabetes progresses, numerous complications develop, classified as acute, chronic and late-onset. Glycemia instability at the initial stage of the disease carries the risk of an acute condition called a diabetic crisis.

Symptoms of acute complications with unstable glycemia

A diabetic crisis is a forced change in condition in which the concentration of glucose in the blood drops sharply (hypoglycemic crisis) or increases sharply (hyperglycemic complication).

Hypoglycemic crisis

The critical sugar level is 2.8 mmol/l on an empty stomach. With these indicators, the patient experiences the following symptoms:

tremor, otherwise trembling (involuntary rapid contraction of muscle fibers);
inappropriate behavior (anxiety, irritability, fussiness, reverse reactions to external stimuli);
ataxia;
decreased visual acuity;
dysfunction of the speech apparatus (slurred speech);
hyperhidrosis;
pallor and cyanosis (blueness) of the skin;
increase in blood pressure and heart rate (heart rate);
loss of consciousness (short-term or prolonged fainting).

Acute complications of diabetes mellitus can lead to coma

Hyperglycemic crisis

It has three main forms (hyperosmolar, lactic acidotic, ketoacidotic). Symptoms of hyperosmolar crisis: dehydration of the body against the background of polydipsia and pollakuria, skin itching, dizziness, loss of strength (physical weakness). Lactic acid crisis is characterized by the following symptoms: frequent loose stools (diarrhea), heaviness of the epigastric (epigastric) region, reflex release of stomach contents (vomiting), noisy and deep breathing (Kussmaul breathing), a sharp decrease in blood pressure, loss of consciousness.

The ketoacidotic form of the crisis is manifested by symptoms: polydipsia and pollakiuria, asthenia, decreased body tone and physical capabilities (weakness), lethargy and sleep disturbance (drowsiness), the smell of ammonia from the mouth, nausea and vomiting, Kussmaul breathing.

Important! In a state of sudden change in blood glucose concentration, the patient needs urgent medical attention. A crisis carries the risk of developing a diabetic coma and death.

Diabetes mellitus is an incurable pathology. The initial stage of the disease may be asymptomatic, so you need to be attentive to your health, listening to the slightest changes in your well-being. Regular monitoring of sugar levels is a chance to promptly detect the development of the disease.

A high glycemic index or a sudden increase in the amount of dextrose in the circulatory system causes a pathology such as xerostomia, with the regular occurrence of which a man or woman should definitely be concerned about their condition, find out additional signs of high blood sugar and make an appointment with a therapist for advice. Symptoms of high blood sugar are alarming preconditions for diseases of the endocrine system and disorders of its functions.

What is high blood sugar

Excessive dextrose content is a dangerous situation in which the concentration of a substance exceeds the norm. The main reasons for this change may be insulin-dependent or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, dysfunction of the endocrine system, problems with excess weight, alcoholism, and smoking. Without proper treatment, hyperglycemia will lead to ketoacidosis, microangiopathy, decreased immunity, and in particularly severe cases, hyperglycemic coma. According to statistical studies, endocrinologists were able to establish the normal range before and after eating foods:

Diabetes mellitus is the main disease associated with an increase in glucose due to a small amount of insulin. This dangerous disease may be acquired or hereditary. Diabetes is accompanied by a decrease in the ability to heal wounds, which can cause the formation of ulcers, and then trophic ulcers. In both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, hormonal medications are used, which, thanks to insulin, reduce the level of dextrose.

Symptoms of high blood sugar

Problems with the urinary system, abnormalities in the functioning of the stomach, deterioration of brain function, weight loss, emotional instability - all this constitutes the main symptoms of increased levels of dextrose. It is important to know how this disease manifests itself at the beginning of its development in order to begin correct treatment in time. Signs of high blood sugar in adults are a signal to contact a qualified physician as soon as possible.

First signs

The first symptoms of high blood sugar are determined by severe dryness of the oral mucosa and viscous saliva, since glucose has the ability to remove water from cells. Next, excess fluid enters the extracellular space and begins to be actively filtered by the kidneys, which causes frequent urination (polyuria). Once water leaves the cells, it can no longer nourish them, which will cause deterioration of the hair condition or the development of skin diseases. Without proper drug therapy, the condition can worsen significantly, leading to the death of the patient.

Feeling good with high blood sugar

Patients feel the first signs of high blood sugar - tingling in the hands, it becomes difficult for them to concentrate their attention on anything for a long time. Impairments in sexual activity and vision may occur. A person with an increased glycemic index experiences constant thirst and hunger, thereby provoking weight gain and swelling of the limbs. Excess glucose in the body affects the incorrect functioning of the membranes of the brain, gastrointestinal tract and urinary system.

Symptoms of a sharp increase in blood sugar

A spontaneous increase in sugar causes dehydration, furunculosis, polyphagia (increased appetite), erethism, and weakness. At night, the number of urination increases. In addition, excess glucose is accompanied by constant fatigue, itching and relapse of infections of various etiologies. A feeling of numbness and muscle spasms of the lower extremities are characteristic symptoms of hyperglycemia.

How does high blood sugar manifest?

Like any pathological condition, hyperglycemia is accompanied by clinical as well as psychosomatic symptoms. Based on a person's appearance and behavior, one can make assumptions about diabetes. The patient is constantly irritated, prone to causeless anxiety, and without proper treatment, acute psychosis and schizophrenia can develop. Shortness of breath, an unnaturally pale face, the smell of acetone, excess weight are clear signs of problems with glucose. Depending on gender and age, characteristic signs of high blood sugar may appear.

Among women

Representatives of the fairer sex in the modern world are forced to constantly work, so they rarely pay attention to changes in well-being. Candidiasis is the most common sign indicating problems with glycemic balance, which is initially mistaken for a separate disease. Hidden types of diabetes are manifested by hypertrichosis of the body, due to the fact that hormones cannot be adequately synthesized by the endocrine glands. There is diabetes in pregnancy, called gestational diabetes, which leads to excessive development of the fetus and problems with childbirth.

In men

In addition to general clinical manifestations, men with high sugar levels suffer from impotence. Problems with hormonal balance and dextrose levels are the main prerequisites for male infertility and an increase in estrogen. Signs of high blood sugar in men are more subtle than symptoms of high blood sugar in women, due to the peculiarities of the genitourinary and hormonal systems.