High blood sugar (hyperglycemia) can develop gradually, and some people have few or no symptoms at first. Common signs that blood sugar may be too high include:
Signs of high blood sugar
- Increased thirst
- Feeling unusually thirsty even after drinking fluids.
- Frequent urination
- Especially waking up at night to urinate.
- Increased hunger
- Feeling hungry often, even after eating.
- Fatigue and low energy
- Feeling unusually tired or weak.
- Blurred vision
- Changes in fluid balance can affect the eyes.
- Slow-healing cuts or wounds
- Injuries may take longer to heal.
- Frequent infections
- Such as skin infections, urinary tract infections, or yeast infections.
- Unexplained weight loss
- More common when blood sugar is very high and the body cannot use glucose properly.
- Tingling or numbness
- Especially in the hands or feet, which may occur with long-term diabetes-related nerve damage.
When to get medical advice
Consider checking your blood glucose or speaking with a healthcare professional if you have several of these symptoms, especially if you also have risk factors for diabetes.
Urgent care is needed for very high blood sugar symptoms such as severe dehydration, vomiting, confusion, difficulty breathing, or extreme weakness.
A blood test such as fasting blood glucose or HbA1c can help determine whether blood sugar levels are in a healthy range.
