Signs of High Sugar

High blood sugar, otherwise known as high blood glucose or hyperglycemia, has many causes, among them diabetes. A family history of diabetes could be a clue to your own susceptibility. You will want to be on the lookout for symptoms of high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, in your children and yourself. Diabetes can also be contracted during pregnancy; it usually goes away once your baby is born. According to the American Diabetes Association, women who have had gestational diabetes have increased incidences of developing Type 2 Diabetes later in life. If you suspect diabetes, have yourself checked out by a doctor as soon as possible.

Common Signs and Causes

• Extreme thirst, hunger, frequent urination, blurred vision, stomachache, lethargy, dry skin, numbness in your hands or feet and headache are the most frequent signs of high blood sugar.

  High blood sugar results in dehydration after several hours. Dehydration, in turn, results in an increase in blood sugar levels, so taking in clear fluids without caffeine is important. After a prolonged period (months to years), hyperglycemia results in tissue damage.

  High blood sugar can have secondary causes other than diabetes. Obesity, lack of exercise, cirrhosis of the liver, and stress can cause non-diabetic insulin resistance. Alcohol, prescription medications and the metal cadmium can cause toxic hyperglycemia. Pancreatic diseases and endocrine dysfunction can also result in hyperglycemia.

Serious Symptoms

• If you or someone else is experiencing difficulty in breathing, are feeling confused or vomiting, get prompt medical attention. If over-the-counter test strips indicate ketones in your urine, call your medical practitioner or go to a hospital. If you are using a blood glucose monitor and blood sugar levels rise and stay high -- above 165 mg/dL for several days to weeks -- you should be tested for diabetes.

Explanation of Symptoms

• Although blood glucose levels are high, poor insulin production or other causes may prevent that glucose from getting to the cells that need it, resulting in tiredness. Kidneys reabsorb the excess glucose, resulting in increased urination. The loss of glucose through urination results in weight loss. Increased urination and glucose in the saliva causes thirst. Dehydration caused by increased urination results in headache. Glucose entering the eye, followed by water, changes the shape of the eye, causing blurred vision. Loss of electrolytes in tissue breakdown causes muscle cramps. Changes in electrolyte balance causes numbness or tingling of the extremities.

Methods of Prevention

• If you have a family history of diabetes, you should exercise, follow a well-balanced diet and keep your weight within the normal range for your height. While waiting for lab results to see if you are diabetic, avoid high-sugar foods and increase your intake of high-protein foods, which break down sugars more slowly and thus help your body to maintain a healthy blood-sugar level.

Managing Diabetes

• If you are diagnosed with diabetes, your doctor will give you a diet and exercise protocol to follow. You will be instructed to monitor your blood sugar level periodically throughout the day. If your blood sugar cannot be controlled by diet and exercise, your doctor will, most likely, place you on insulin, which helps metabolize glucose. In addition, you will test your urine first thing in the morning to monitor for ketones, which show up in urine if your body is having trouble metabolizing fatty acids.