7 Sneaky Signs Your Blood Sugar Is Too High, According to Dietitians

From eatingwell.com

High blood sugar isn't always obvious—these are the warning signs dietitians want you to know 

KEY POINTS

• High blood sugar can develop gradually and may not cause noticeable symptoms early on.
• Symptoms like excessive thirst, frequent urination and blurry vision may signal issues.
• Lifestyle changes, like a balanced diet, can help manage or prevent high blood sugar.

The signs and symptoms of elevated blood sugar are easy to overlook, mistake or miss altogether. This is especially true for type 2 diabetes, which can go undiagnosed for many years. "Undiagnosed diabetes is more common than many people think," says Mary Ellen Phipps, MPH, RDN, LD. "According to the CDC, 11 million adults meet the diagnostic criteria for diabetes, but don't know they have it."

Why are so many people unaware? "Many people with mild to moderately high blood sugar, especially in prediabetes or early type 2 diabetes, may have no noticeable symptoms at all," says Jackie Topol, M.S., RD, CDN. Plus, high blood sugar tends to develop gradually, and in its early stages, symptoms may be subtle or absent altogether.

The good news is that early intervention can make a difference, says Phipps. Whether you have a family history of high blood sugar or diabetes or just want to be proactive about your health, here are some signs of high blood sugar to watch for.

                                                                                           Credit: Getty Images. EatingWell design

1. You're Thirsty All the Time

Is your thirst unquenchable? Are you making more frequent trips to the bathroom? When blood sugar levels are high, these symptoms often go hand in hand.

"Excess sugar in the blood results in the kidneys working harder to get rid of it," says Maria Elena Fraga, RD, CDCES, CDN. "The kidneys draw in water from your tissues to dilute the glucose so it can be excreted via the urine, resulting in more frequent trips to the bathroom."

As your body loses water and electrolytes through increased urination, thirst can ramp up, causing you to drink more fluids. If you're drinking sugary beverages such as juice, sports drinks or soda, that can cause blood sugar levels to climb even higher. 

2. You're Hungry All the Time

"Your body converts the food you eat into glucose, later used by your cells for energy," says Fraga. However, sometimes, that glucose is unable to enter your cells. This can happen if your body doesn't produce enough insulin, the hormone that helps move glucose into cells, or if the insulin it produces isn't used efficiently.

The result? "The inability to use glucose causes a lack of energy, which can make you hungrier than usual," says Fraga. 

In some cases, excessive hunger accompanied by weight loss can be a sign of diabetes, especially type 1 diabetes. If you're eating enough but still feel constantly hungry and are also losing weight, it's important to seek evaluation from a health care professional.

3. Your Vision Is Blurry 

High blood sugar can affect the small blood vessels in the eyes, resulting in blurry vision that may come and go, sometimes long before a diabetes diagnosis is made. Over time, this can damage the retina of your eye, resulting in a condition known as diabetic retinopathy. In fact, the American Diabetes Association recommends that all people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes receive a dilated eye exam shortly after diagnosis.

4. You're Always Tired

Remember how your cells need glucose for fuel? A lack of insulin, insulin resistance or a combination of both can prevent cells from taking in glucose from the bloodstream to use for energy. Without the proper fuel, you can feel very tired and fatigued. 

5. You Keep Getting Urinary Tract Infections

Research suggests that nearly 40% of people living with diabetes experience urinary tract infections (UTIs).  That's because the body works to get rid of excess blood sugar by increasing urine output. While that may help lower sugar in the bloodstream, it can also lead to increased bacterial growth that can cause UTIs, says Fraga.

6. You Develop Dark Spots and Skin Tags

Dark velvety patches in skin creases—such as the neck, armpits, fingers and groin—may be a sign of a diabetes-related condition called acanthosis nigricans.  It is caused by high insulin levels, "which can be an early sign of prediabetes, diabetes [or] insulin resistance," says Fraga.

But these aren't the only skin changes linked to high blood sugar. Skin tags, dermatitis, bacterial and fungal infections and dry, itchy skin can also be subtle signs of elevated blood sugar.

7. You Have Other Unexplained Symptoms 

Not everyone will experience the same symptoms, and some are more common than others. "Hair loss and dry skin, nausea, wounds that won't heal, tingling in the fingers and toes, and dry mouth are other symptoms of high blood sugar," says Phipps. Sexual health issues may also occur, including decreased libido or erectile dysfunction in men and vaginal dryness in women.

Strategies for Managing High Blood Sugar

Elevated blood sugar occurs when sugar in the form of glucose accumulates in your blood, says Topol. We get glucose from carbohydrate-containing foods such as bread, rice, pasta and fruits. "After digestion, glucose enters the blood and is used by the body for energy," she explains. "Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, assists in moving glucose from the blood into the cells. If a person doesn't make insulin or can't use it properly (as in insulin resistance), sugar stays in the bloodstream instead of being used for energy."

Managing blood sugar often comes down to consistent lifestyle habits that support how your body uses glucose. While medical care is essential for diagnosis and treatment, certain daily behaviours can help improve blood sugar control over time.

• Stay physically active. Regular exercise can improve insulin sensitivity, making it easier for cells to use glucose for energy. Even moderate movement, like walking, can make a difference.
• Focus on balanced meals. Eating a mix of fibre-rich carbohydrates, lean protein and healthy fats can help prevent blood sugar spikes and promote steadier energy levels.
• Maintain a healthy weight. For some people, even modest weight loss can improve insulin function and blood sugar control.
• Avoid smoking. Smoking is linked to insulin resistance and can worsen blood sugar regulation over time.
• Manage other health conditions. Keeping conditions like high blood pressure under control can support overall metabolic health.

While lifestyle changes can make a meaningful impact, they're not a substitute for medical care. In some cases, these habits may even help delay or improve type 2 diabetes. If you're concerned about your blood sugar, a simple blood test from a health care provider can help guide next steps.

Our Expert Take

Elevated blood sugar is not always accompanied by symptoms. However, there are some sneaky signs to be aware of. If you have high blood sugar, targeted lifestyle changes—like a blood sugar-friendly diet, exercise and weight loss, if indicated—can make a meaningful difference. The first and most impactful change you can make is to assess your eating habits. If you need assistance planning meals specific to your food preferences and culture or discovering which foods work best for your body, consider meeting with a registered dietitian. These nutrition experts can provide personalized guidance on the best ways to structure your meals and snacks for better blood sugar and overall health. 

https://www.eatingwell.com/sneaky-signs-your-blood-sugar-is-too-high-11981073

Guarding Your Independence With Type 2 Diabetes: 7 Risks and Solutions

From everydayhealth.com

Type 2 diabetes doesn’t necessarily lead to a loss of independence on its own. But diabetes complications such as vision loss, muscle weakness, and cognitive decline can make it harder to maintain your quality of life on your own.

Mitigating and avoiding these risks starts with blood sugar control and weight management, but good diabetes management can go a step further. Other solutions can include exercising, sleeping right, and even staying socially active.

1. Risk: Vision Loss

Eyesight can be an essential part of maintaining your quality of life. But poorly managed blood sugar increases your risk of diabetic retinopathy, damage to the blood vessels in your eye’s retina that can lead to vision loss and blindness.

When insulin isn’t working effectively, too much sugar stays in your bloodstream. Over time, this can damage blood vessels throughout the body, says Charles Barron Jr., MD, chief medical officer of Friend Health, a provider for medically underserved communities in Chicago. 

“The eyes have very small blood vessels, and when we can't get blood flow to them, cellular death starts to occur,” Dr. Barron says.

More than 9.5 million people in the United States have diabetic retinopathy, including 26 percent of people with diabetes. It threatens the vision of 1.84 million of those people, about 5 percent of people with diabetes.

About 1 in 14 people with diabetes also develop diabetes-related macular edema, swelling in the macula (the central part of your retina) that can lead to blindness. It is the leading cause of vision loss among people with diabetes, says Jennifer Cheng, MD, chief of endocrinology at Hackensack Meridian Health in Neptune, New Jersey. 

Solution: Get Your Blood Sugar and Blood Pressure Under Control

Managing your blood sugar effectively is key for reducing your risk of diabetes complications, and vision loss is no exception. If you have hypertension, or high blood pressure, lowering your blood pressure could slow the progression of vision issues. Eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, losing excess weight, and taking prescribed medication can help. Injections or lasers can also treat macular edema.

2. Risk: Muscle Weakness (Sarcopenia)

Age-related loss of muscle mass and function, or sarcopenia, affects more than half of people age 80 and older. It can lead to depression, falls, and bone fractures, all of which can reduce your ability to get around on your own.

Type 2 diabetes can speed up this process, which makes it harder for you to control your blood sugar and to be physically active — leading to additional diabetes complications.

In fact, more than 22 percent of people age 50 and older with type 2 diabetes have sarcopenia, compared with 8.8 percent of people who do not have type 2 diabetes. Dr. Cheng says that the following factors contribute to this increased risk of muscle breakdown:

• Insulin resistance
• Chronic inflammation
• Increased accumulation of harmful substances in muscle fibres caused by high blood sugar 

Your risk may be greater if you have the following conditions:

• High blood pressure
• Low calcium levels
• Nerve damage
• Low amount of physical activity

Solution: Strength-Building Exercise

Regardless of your age, building strength can help maintain muscle mass and manage type 2 diabetes. Two or three resistance-training sessions each week can improve blood sugar control and help your body use insulin efficiently. You don’t even need to go to the gym and use heavy equipment to get results. Barron recommends using a can of food as a dumbbell and performing flexing exercises (think curls or overhead presses) to maintain strength. 

3. Risk: Foot Problems

People with type 2 diabetes have an increased risk of foot issues, from poor circulation to rare and serious conditions such as Charcot foot, that make it difficult or impossible to walk. About 15 percent of people with diabetes get diabetic foot ulcers, usually on the bottom of the foot. Although often preventable, they can lead to amputation in 14 to 24 percent of cases.

Foot issues can be the result of nerve damage or peripheral artery disease, which can reduce blood flow in your feet and can make it harder for foot sores to heal.

“The toes have very small blood vessels, and when circulation is compromised, these areas are particularly vulnerable,” says Barron, adding that doctors typically check your toes and feet for sensation changes and look for evidence of decreased blood flow.

Solution: Daily Foot Care

Wear shoes or socks around the house, and avoid going barefoot or exposing your feet to extreme temperatures, Barron says. Check your feet every day to prevent small problems from becoming large ones. If you develop a foot sore or ulcer, preventing infection by keeping it clean, bandaged, and medicated (when prescribed) is your best bet to avoid complications. Your doctor may refer you to a podiatrist or wound-care specialist for additional treatment.

4. Risk: Severe Hypoglycaemia

Medications that treat type 2 diabetes can lower blood sugar levels, but they can also cause levels to drop too low, known as hypoglycemia. These medications include sulfonylureas and insulin.

Symptoms include hunger, shakiness, and confusion. Though mild cases of hypoglycaemia can be treated with a sugary snack or drink, severe cases of hypoglycaemia cause a risk of losing consciousness, Barron says.

If you are at least 70 years old and have type 2 diabetes, you have an increased risk of being hospitalized for severe hypoglycaemia while taking insulin or sulfonylureas. The risk increases with age.

Solution: More Blood Sugar Testing

Testing blood sugar more frequently helps you make better decisions about medication. Barron says that doctors may monitor your blood sugar levels remotely to gauge blood sugar control more accurately. Continuous glucose monitors give you real-time updates and alarms so you can learn quickly if you have hypoglycaemia.

5. Risk: Chronic Fatigue

“Chronic fatigue is a prevalent and often overlooked symptom in type 2 diabetes, significantly eroding quality of life,” Cheng says. 

This is because high blood sugar from untreated type 2 diabetes affects your ability to convert sugar into energy. The build-up of sugar also causes your kidneys to work harder, leading to frequent urination that can interrupt your sleep.

Being overweight or having obesity can contribute to fatigue, as your body may have to work harder to perform everyday tasks.

Sleep comes into play, as well. People with type 2 diabetes often sleep poorly and wake frequently during the night, Barron says. These sleep issues, including obstructive sleep apnoea and insomnia, can contribute to fatigue.

Solution: Good Sleep Hygiene

Prioritize habits that lead to better sleep:

• Don't use electronic devices before bed.
• Exercise during the day.
• Keep blood sugar and blood pressure levels consistent.
• Limit daytime naps of more than 30 minutes.
• Create a comfortable sleep environment, free of light and noise.

In addition, talk to your doctor about getting tested and potentially treated for sleep apnea, a condition in which your airway is completely or partially obstructed during sleep. About 7 in 10 people with type 2 diabetes have obstructive sleep apnoea, which your healthcare team can help you treat.

6. Risk: Cognitive Decline

Losing mental function, such as memory, language, reasoning, and judgment, can limit your ability to do things on your own. Cognitive impairment increases as you age, and it is more common in people with type 2 diabetes, especially those age 65 and older. Risk factors may include obesity, chronic inflammation, and cardiovascular complications of diabetes.

Informally, the progressive brain disorder Alzheimer’s disease is sometimes called type 3 diabetes. The long-term blood sugar problems linked to diabetes may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s and speed memory loss by interfering with how brain cells function.

“Insulin resistance can impair brain cell function and communication,” Cheng says. “If there is not enough sugar in the brain, then there could be damage, especially with severe hypoglycaemia.”

Solution: Brain Stimulation

Maintaining stable blood sugar and staying mentally active can support brain health and functional independence, Barron says. Stimulating activities for your brain include playing cards or board games, learning a new language, trying a new recipe, visiting a new vacation spot, and even planning a dinner party. Trying new things can help your brain form new connections.

7. Risk: Social Isolation

Loneliness can affect quality of life and independence in many ways: Not only can it increase the risk of cognitive decline and conditions such as type 2 diabetes but it also affects mental health — with lonely people being twice as likely to get depressed.

People with type 2 diabetes are especially vulnerable to loneliness and social isolation, with nearly 20 percent of people with the condition also experiencing intense loneliness.

“From a social perspective, people may decline to go out because they feel like they're not going to be able to eat freely, they're embarrassed because they may have to check blood sugar, or [they experience] different social aspects that can impact whether they want to spend time with others,” Barron says. 

People who feel isolated or lonely are more likely to develop diabetes-related problems such as kidney disease, nerve damage, and eye damage than those who are more socially connected. In fact, the risk is about as strong as those associated with smoking, high blood pressure, and low physical activity.

Solution: Explore and Expand Your Community

To get a sense of belonging, take a class to learn something new with others, schedule time each day to stay in touch with family or friends, consider adopting a pet if you can care for one, introduce yourself to your neighbours, or join a community cause to get involved. It's also important to educate your family members and friends about type 2 diabetes so they can help you navigate certain situations, without putting pressure on you to do something you can’t because of the disease, Barron says. 

The Takeaway

• Effective management of type 2 diabetes, including control of your blood sugar level and weight, can substantially reduce the risk of complications that threaten your independence.
• If you do not control your blood sugar well, you may risk changes to your vision, muscle mass, and cognitive abilities, as well as foot problems, hypoglycaemia, and fatigue.
• In addition to good blood sugar control and metabolic health, solutions such as ensuring that your blood pressure is under control, exercising, and even staying socially active can help mitigate risks of complications.
• Talk to your healthcare team about the best ways to manage your type 2 diabetes and what change you can make to maintain and improve your quality of life.

https://www.everydayhealth.com/diabetes/guarding-your-independence-with-type-2-diabetes/ 

Why Does Type 2 Diabetes Cause Fatigue?

From universityhealth.com

You were diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes recently and find yourself with so many questions. One that’s on your mind often: “Why am I so tired?”

If you find yourself frequently feeling fatigued, you aren’t alone. Fatigue is so common among those who have diabetes that there’s a name for it — diabetes fatigue syndrome.

It’s important to make a distinction between fatigue and tiredness. Someone who is simply tired will usually feel rejuvenated after a period of rest, while someone experiencing fatigue may still feel lethargic.

“It is very common to see patients with diabetes having fatigue as one of their more bothersome symptoms,” says Dr. Maria Escobar Vasco, an endocrinologist with University Health. “We typically see it more often among patients who have been recently diagnosed or who have uncontrolled diabetes.”

There’s good news, though. While it’s common to experience fatigue at times when you’re managing diabetes, you can take steps to fix the underlying causes and feel more energy. 

Possible Diabetes-Related Causes of Fatigue

There are many different potential reasons for fatigue among those who have diabetes. Perhaps most importantly, blood sugar itself can be a contributing factor. Those who have very high levels of glucose often experience fatigue, but fatigue is also fairly common among those who have very low levels of glucose.

Other causes of diabetes-related fatigue can include:

• An inactive lifestyle. While it might seem like it would be the opposite, being physically inactive can contribute to fatigue.
• Chronic pain. Diabetic neuropathy, a type of nerve damage that causes pain and tingling, can contribute to fatigue in multiple ways. It can make it more difficult to get meaningful sleep and rest, and medications used to treat neuropathy often cause somnolence, a type of drowsiness that may feel like fatigue.
• Dehydration. When the amount of water the body is excreting is more than you’re taking in through your diet, dehydration results. Dehydration can cause high blood sugar because the amount of water in the blood decreases, increasing the concentration of glucose. High blood sugar, in turn, causes fatigue.
• Diabetic heart disease. Many people who have diabetes also have heart disease. Strain on the heart can cause fatigue, particularly after exercise or other exertion.
• Mental health issues. Those who have diabetes are at a higher risk of developing certain mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression. When untreated, these conditions can worsen fatigue.
• Sleep problems. Having insomnia or other sleep disorders, including sleep apnoea, can contribute to fatigue, as can simply not sleeping well on a regular basis or not getting restful sleep.

These potential causes for fatigue can be related to certain medications used to treat diabetes, since they often cause symptoms like increased urination or nausea.

How to Manage Diabetes Fatigue

If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes and are experiencing fatigue, your first step is to check in with your care team.

“Talk with a primary care doctor about your symptoms,” Escobar Vasco says.  

“There may be associated conditions that have not been diagnosed and need further workup, like depression, sleep apnoea, heart or lung conditions, or vitamin deficiencies, or you may need changes to medications.”

If an underlying cause isn’t to blame for your fatigue, try adjusting your habits to see if lifestyle changes will help. The most important thing you can do is to work with your providers to get your blood sugar level under control.

You can do this by:

• Taking medications as prescribed
• Eating a nutrient-filled diet that minimises high-carb and high-sugar foods
• Staying well-hydrated
• Managing stress
• Making physical activity a part of your daily routine 

Losing even a small amount of weight can also be helpful in lowering blood sugar into a healthy range.

“Patients should really come to their doctors and discuss fatigue, which is common,” Escobar Vasco says. “There may be lots of different things you can do to feel better.”

https://www.universityhealth.com/blog/diabetes-fatigue