The headline “7 Nighttime Signs of High Blood Sugar You Should Never Ignore” is attention-grabbing, but the symptoms listed in these posts are not always caused by high blood sugar. Still, certain nighttime symptoms can be clues that blood glucose levels may be elevated, especially in people at risk for diabetes.
Possible nighttime signs of high blood sugar include:
- Waking up frequently to urinate (nocturia)
- High blood sugar can cause the kidneys to remove extra glucose through urine, increasing urination.
- Excessive thirst
- Frequent urination can lead to dehydration and increased thirst.
- Dry mouth
- Dehydration from fluid loss may cause a dry mouth at night.
- Night sweats or feeling unusually hot
- Blood sugar fluctuations can sometimes contribute to sweating, though there are many other possible causes.
- Poor sleep or waking up tired
- High or fluctuating glucose levels may affect sleep quality.
- Increased hunger, even after eating
- The body may not use glucose effectively when blood sugar is high.
- Tingling or numbness in the feet
- Long-term high blood sugar can damage nerves (diabetic neuropathy), which may be noticed at night.
Other signs that should be checked include:
- Unexplained weight loss
- Blurred vision
- Slow-healing cuts or frequent infections
- Persistent fatigue
The only way to know if your blood sugar is high is through testing, such as a fasting glucose test, HbA1c test, or home glucose monitoring if recommended.
Seek urgent medical care if high blood sugar symptoms occur with vomiting, severe weakness, confusion, deep/rapid breathing, or a fruity smell on the breath, as these can be signs of a serious complication.
