Pre-diabetes is the stage before diabetes and many people don’t even know they’ve got high blood sugar. It can be very difficult to detect.
High blood sugar, even in diabetics, can be hard to identify sometimes too. There are estimates that more than 20 percent of diabetics don’t even know they have the disease.
So, what does it look like? Here are a few signs that may indicate you’ve got high blood sugar.
Frequently needing the bathroom: Frequent urination is common, but if you’re not on your third cup of coffee or have been sipping water all day and still find yourself needing the toilet like you are, it could be a sign of high blood sugar.
The reason may be a condition called polyuria, where excess glucose in the bloodstream is making your kidneys work really hard to get rid of it. If they can’t find something to do with all the sugar, they will expel it in urine.
If you’re peeing excessively, it can also lead to dehydration, so if you’re peeing a lot and extremely thirsty you might want to book an appointment to have blood sugar levels checked.
You’re unusually tired: Feeling inexplicably fatigued is one of the first signs of high blood sugar.
Of course, there are many reasons, and conditions, that could leave you feeling tired. If it’s blood sugar-related, you’ll likely notice it hitting shortly after eating a meal.
Vision problems: High blood sugar may lead to blurry vision, caused by swelling in the eye’s lens. High glucose (sugar) levels can cause swelling that causes fluid to leak into the lens to throw focus off.
Slow-healing wounds: High blood sugar can hinder immune function and make it harder for the body to heal itself and fight infection.
These are just a few of the ways you might be able to identify high blood sugar. But you can also look at your diet.
If it is high in processed foods, candy, and refined goods, you’re at a higher risk for high blood sugar and diabetes than if it’s made up of whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes, and lean proteins.