{"id":464912,"date":"2026-02-12T21:23:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T21:23:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/464912\/"},"modified":"2026-02-12T21:23:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T21:23:09","slug":"11-surprising-signs-of-high-blood-sugar-doctors-want-you-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/464912\/","title":{"rendered":"11 Surprising Signs of High Blood Sugar Doctors Want You to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

For people with diabetes<\/a>, regularly checking their blood sugar levels is part of their daily life. But if you don’t have diabetes, you likely aren’t measuring your blood sugar very often, if at all. That’s why knowing the symptoms of high blood sugar can come in handy, especially if you have prediabetes<\/a> (a.k.a. blood sugar nearing diabetes levels). They can help you recognize when you should call your doctor to avoid potentially dangerous complications. <\/p>\n

\u201cHigh blood sugar\u2014also called hyperglycemia\u2014means there\u2019s too much glucose in your bloodstream,\u201d explained Lisa Shah, M.D.<\/a>, a physician who specializes in metabolic health. This typically happens because your body doesn\u2019t produce insulin (type 1 diabetes<\/a>), doesn\u2019t produce enough insulin (type 2 diabetes<\/a>), or isn\u2019t able to use insulin effectively (prediabetes and type 2 diabetes), she explained. But you can experience hyperglycemia even if you don\u2019t have diabetes.<\/p>\n

Meet the experts: Chhaya Makhija, M.D.<\/a>, CEO, founder, and endocrinologist at Unified Endocrine and Diabetes Care; Lisa Shah, M.D.<\/a>, physician, executive vice president, and chief medical officer at Twin Health<\/a>; Akhil Shenoy, M.D.<\/a>, endocrinologist and internal medicine physician at Memorial Hermann in Houston, TX. <\/p>\n

When left untreated, high blood sugar can make you feel tired, weak, and dehydrated\u2014and lead to potentially life-threatening complications, like diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS)\u2014more on these below. But you may not experience any symptoms at first, said Akhil Shenoy, M.D.<\/a>, endocrinologist and internal medicine physician. \u201cHyperglycemia doesn\u2019t always feel obvious right away,\u201d Dr. Shah explained. \u201cThe symptoms can be gradual and vague.\u201d<\/p>\n

Because of this, experts recommend routine screening<\/a>\u2014especially if you have risk factors for diabetes. Even if you don\u2019t, you should keep an eye out for the following high blood sugar symptoms and get to a doctor if you experience several of them at once. <\/p>\n

Symptoms of high blood sugar you should knowFrequent urination<\/p>\n

Constantly running to the toilet? Hyperglycemia may be to blame. \u201cWhen [your] blood sugar is high, your body works hard to bring it back into balance,\u201d Dr. Shah said. Your kidneys go into overdrive trying to flush out that extra sugar. \u201cSince the kidneys cannot simply push out solid sugar cubes, [they] draw water to go along with the sugar, leading to excessive urination<\/a>,\u201d Dr. Shenoy explained.<\/p>\n

Increased thirst<\/p>\n

Your body is a system. So as your kidneys work to get rid of that extra glucose\u2014and as you start peeing more\u2014you\u2019ll also get thirstier. \u201cThe brain senses high glucose and signals you to drink more water,\u201d explained Chhaya Makhija, M.D.<\/a>, endocrinologist at Unified Endocrine and Diabetes Care. You might catch yourself reaching for your water bottle more often. You might also experience dehydration symptoms<\/a>, like weakness and dry mouth.<\/p>\n

Fatigue<\/p>\n

Hyperglycemia can make you feel weak, exhausted, and unlike your usual self. \u201cYou might feel tired, fatigued, or sluggish,\u201d Dr. Shah said. \u201cYou might feel foggy or have a hard time concentrating on something.\u201d In general, you\u2019ll just feel \u201coff,\u201d she explained. It’s important to note that fatigue is a sign of numerous possible health conditions, so if you’re just feeling tired and foggy, it’s unlikely that your blood sugar is to blame. But if you experience fatigue coupled with other high blood sugar symptoms, that could be a clue.<\/p>\n

Persistent hunger<\/p>\n

When you have high blood sugar, glucose gets \u201cstuck\u201d in your bloodstream, Dr. Shenoy explained. \u201cMeanwhile, the cells of the body\u2014such as the brain, the heart, and the muscle cells\u2014are not receiving the sugar that is needed for normal function,\u201d he said. Your body may try to compensate by going into \u201cstarvation mode,\u201d making you feel hungrier than usual, even shortly after eating.<\/p>\n

Weight loss<\/p>\n

High blood sugar can cause rapid, unexplained weight loss<\/a>\u2014for a couple of different reasons. When your body can\u2019t rely on glucose for energy, it starts burning fat and muscle instead, per the Cleveland Clinic<\/a>. \u201cThis is an unhealthy type of weight loss,\u201d Dr. Shenoy noted. Urinating more and dehydration can also contribute to weight loss, Dr. Makhija added.<\/p>\n

Blurry vision<\/p>\n

Prolonged high glucose may damage blood vessels and nerves throughout the body\u2014including your eyes, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine<\/a>. The macula (a part of the eye) can swell due to leaky blood vessels (known as macular edema), resulting in blurry vision. Diabetic retinopathy can occur after very long periods of high blood sugars; this causes your blood vessels to leak or new abnormal ones to grow and tends to lead to blindness. However, that\u2019s the worst-case scenario, and it often takes a while to occur.<\/p>\n

Hyperglycemia may make your vision blurry, simply because it makes you dehydrated. \u201cDehydration affects the eyes, particularly the retinas, which have a rich blood supply,\u201d Dr. Makhija said. When you\u2019re low on fluids, your eyes may get blurry. This is usually a temporary condition. \u201c[But] if sugars remain high for many years, the eye can be permanently damaged,\u201d Dr. Shenoy explained. <\/p>\n

Frequent infections<\/p>\n

Chronic high blood sugar \u201cimpairs the immune response,\u201d making it harder for your body to fight off infections, Dr. Makhija explained. And being dehydrated all the time certainly doesn\u2019t help, she added. Because of this, you may find yourself getting sick more often\u2014and staying sick longer than you normally would.<\/p>\n

Slow-healing wounds<\/p>\n

Since hyperglycemia impacts your immune response<\/a>, it can also make it harder for your body to heal cuts and bruises. Chronic high blood sugar can also cause poor circulation and nerve damage, which can \u201creduce awareness of injury and delay healing,\u201d compounding the problem, Dr. Makhija added.<\/p>\n

Fruity breath<\/p>\n

Fruity breath isn\u2019t merely a sign of high blood sugar\u2014it\u2019s a symptom of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a dangerous hyperglycemia complication. When your body starts burning protein and fat for energy, it releases ketones, Dr. Makhija explained. One of these ketones, acetone, can make your breath smell fruity or metallic\u2014and it\u2019s a warning sign you need to see a doctor ASAP. Untreated DKA can lead to death, so head to the emergency room, stat.<\/p>\n

Confusion<\/p>\n

High blood sugar can cause fatigue and brain fog. But if those symptoms become more severe\u2014and you feel confused, disoriented, or delirious\u2014you may need immediate medical care. These \u201cchanges in mental status\u201d may be symptoms of DKA or hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS), potentially life-threatening hyperglycemia complications, per Yale Medicine<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Upset stomach<\/p>\n

Nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps are warning signs of DKA. When your body can\u2019t rely on glucose for energy, it starts to burn fat and protein\u2014and releases ketones in the process. As those ketones build up in your gastrointestinal tract, they can upset your stomach. \u201cIf you experience nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or mental fog, check your ketones and seek urgent care,\u201d Dr. Makhija said. Again, GI symptoms can have a variety of different causes. But if you are experiencing them alongside other signs on this list, it may be worth picking up some over-the-counter test strips from the drugstore that can measure ketones in the urine.<\/p>\n

Possible complications of high blood sugar<\/p>\n

Though high blood sugar starts subtly, it can cause serious complications if left untreated. \u201cYou may not feel symptoms in the early stages, but long-term high blood sugar can quietly cause irreversible damage,\u201d Dr. Makhija said. <\/p>\n

When glucose builds up in your bloodstream, it can damage your blood vessels\u2014and subsequently your organs and nerves, Dr. Shenoy explained. Chronic high blood sugar can also lead to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS), two serious complications that can cause coma, organ damage, and death in severe cases.<\/p>\n

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)<\/p>\n

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious complication of high blood sugar that\u2019s especially common in people with type 1 diabetes, explained Dr. Makhija. When your body can\u2019t rely on glucose for energy, it starts breaking down fat and protein instead. \u201cA byproduct of this process is ketones, which are acidic compounds that build up in the blood and make it dangerously acidic,\u201d Dr. Shah said.<\/p>\n

Per the Cleveland Clinic<\/a> and Yale Medicine<\/a>, DKA can cause many of the symptoms above\u2014but others that are unique to this complication include rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, and fainting. <\/p>\n

When left untreated, DKA may cause a range of dangerous complications, including organ damage, coma, and even death, per the Cleveland Clinic<\/a>. \u201cDKA is a life-threatening emergency and requires urgent treatment,\u201d Dr. Makhija said.<\/p>\n

Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS)<\/p>\n

Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS) is another dangerous hyperglycemia complication, but it\u2019s more common among people with type 2 diabetes, Dr. Makhija explained. When your blood sugar stays high for too long, it can cause extreme dehydration and confusion\u2014without the excess ketones you see in DKA, Dr. Shenoy said. <\/p>\n

\u201cHHS is similar [to DKA] in that blood sugar is extremely high, but your body produces enough insulin to prevent ketones from building up,\u201d Dr. Shah said. \u201cInstead, the problem is that the excess sugar makes your blood very concentrated. Your body then tries to dilute it by pulling water from elsewhere into the bloodstream, which exacerbates dehydration and throws off electrolyte balance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Per the Cleveland Clinic<\/a> and Yale Medicine<\/a>, HHS symptoms also look similar to those of high blood sugar, typically including things like frequent urination, increased thirst, blurry vision, and confusion. In addition, HHS can cause weakness, especially one side of the body, fainting, and coma. <\/p>\n

The bottom line<\/p>\n

A routine blood test (or even a finger prick) can give your doctor insight into your levels. The good news: When caught early, there are many medications available (from Ozempic<\/a> to full-on insulin) to help manage blood sugars. If you have the symptoms on this list or are simply concerned that your blood sugar is high, ask your healthcare provider about next steps. If you believe you are experiencing DKA or HHS, seek immediate treatment. In severe cases, these conditions may cause seizures, organ damage, coma, and death. \u201cIf symptoms escalate or you\u2019re unsure, call 911 or go to the emergency room,\u201d Dr. Makhija said. \u201cDKA and HHS are not manageable at home.\u201d<\/p>\n

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