Hello, I am Ty Mason of thediabetescouncil.com, researcher, writer and I have type 2 diabetes.
Today I will talk to you about what high blood sugar feels like.
After you watch the video today, I invite you check out the description box for my new
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For those of you watching with diabetes, you probably know the answer to this question.
But I have been asked with those with diabetes this question before.
Hyperglycemia, high blood sugar or high blood glucose is the sign for all types of diabetes.
The body can no longer regulate the blood sugar in your blood for one of two reasons:
1.
the pancreas is no longer making enough insulin 2.
the body’s cells have become so resistant to insulin that the pancreas cannot keep up
Either way the result is that glucose is accumulating in the bloodstream rather than being moved
into the cells.
But what does this feel like?
How does your body react?
Let me first say that you may feel some or all of the symptoms we discuss today.
Hyperglycemia can affect different people in different ways, but there are some symptoms
that are common among MOST people with diabetes.
There are 3 most common and we will discuss those.
But there are others.
The most common signs of high blood sugar I call PolyCubed.
1.
Polyuria == This is excessive urination.
You are constantly needing to run to the bathroom, like at least once an hour if not more often.
This is caused by a dual chain reaction.
The cells are pumping water into the bloodstream to try and dilute the glucose and bring it
back to normal, and the kidneys, unable to reabsorb this fluid during filtering, are
uncontrollably flushing water from the body.
The result is runaway urination. 2.
Polydipsia is the result of polyuria.
It is excessive thirst.
This is a response to the dehydrating effects of polyuria; it’s the body’s attempt to
rehydrate itself.
According to Wil Dubois BS, AAS, CPT, the relationship between excessive urination and
excessive thirst is often misinterpreted by people experiencing high blood glucose, especially
before diabetes is diagnosed.
Many people assume that excessive urination is caused by the excessive thirst, and not
the other way around.
So they are quick to discount the excessive urination, thinking “Well, I’ve been drinking
a lot lately…”
3.
Polyphagia is the final main symptom of high blood glucose level.
It is excessive hunger.
It is not so much caused by the high blood glucose level as it is a low insulin level.
the amount of insulin in the blood is insufficient to move glucose molecules from the bloodstream
into the cells, where they can be used as fuel for cellular processes.
If cells aren’t able to gain access to glucose, they send out hunger signals and the brain’s
hypothalamus triggers the sensation of hunger.
Those are the 3 main signs of high blood sugar.
Most everyone who has a blood sugar level above 150 will experience one or all of these
symptoms.
Usually at least 2 of them.
Another symptom you may feel is fatigue.
Your body is working so hard to regulate your blood sugar and your cells can’t get the
fuel they need to work properly.
This will cause you to feel very tired.
You will want to rest constantly.
As the glucose levels rise in your blood stream, other symptoms are possible to appear.
One that is very common of others I have talked to is blurred vision.
Sometimes you see what I call “little snowmen” in your peripheral vision.
This is the beginning of diabetic retinopathy.
The tiny blood vessels in your eyes cannot carry the thicker blood causing oxygen levels
in the optic nerve to drop.
You may also experience one or more of the following after days of high blood glucose
levels: Rapid, deep breathing.
A fast heart rate and a weak pulse.
A strong, fruity breath odor.
Loss of appetite, belly pain, and/or vomiting.
Lightheadedness.
Headache Unexplained, rapid weight loss
Tingling in hands and/or feet Scratches or sores that take a long time to
heal It is difficult to answer what each individual
will feel like when their blood sugar is high.
It really depends on the individual and how high the blood glucose level is.
Believe it or not, there are people who feel worse when their blood glucose levels are
normal.
They get used to how it feels to have elevated blood sugars and “normal” is not normal
to them.
If you experience any 2 of the PolyCubed symptoms and you have not been diagnosed with diabetes,
you should get to your health care provider as soon as possible and ask them to check
your blood glucose level.
If you have diabetes and you experience any of the other symptoms, you need to make sure
you keep a check on your blood sugar and if it remains high, see your health care provider
and ask for an A1C test, this can help tell you how long your levels have been high.
You may need to have your medication adjusted.
High blood sugar is not something to just dismiss.
It can have very serious consequences.
If you even suspect you have high blood sugar, contact your health care provider.
I hope you have found this video helpful.
Don’t forget to get my new ebook and please, subscribe to our channel for many more videos
like this one in the future.
Thanks for watching.
I am Ty Mason.