People Who Love Sweets and Starch Should Be More Careful
What you enjoy eating could put you at risk of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), which can lead to diabetes.
What is High Blood Sugar?
High blood sugar is a condition where the body has a blood sugar level exceeding 100 mg/dL. Normally, the human body needs sugar and transports it through the blood to various organs.
Causes of High Blood Sugar
Genetics: A family history of diabetes is a major factor. If your parents have diabetes, your risk of high blood sugar increases.
Obesity: Having a body mass index (BMI) over 25 is considered obese and increases the risk of diabetes.
Lifestyle: Eating starchy, fatty, or high-sugar foods, and not exercising regularly, are behaviors that raise the risk of diabetes.
What Happens to Your Body When Your Blood Sugar is High?
Slightly elevated blood sugar may not show any symptoms. However, when blood sugar levels are very high, it starts to affect your body’s organs. If it remains high for a long time, it can cause organ damage. For example, diabetic nephropathy (diabetes affecting the kidneys) can require dialysis. Diabetic retinopathy (diabetes affecting the eyes) can cause blurry vision, loss of sight, or even blindness.
Moreover, people with diabetes are more susceptible to heart disease and stroke. They may also experience numbness or a tingling, “pins and needles” sensation in their hands and feet. This is because blood vessels supplying parts of the body, especially the legs and feet, are not functioning well. This is why wounds heal slowly, which often leads to foot ulcers and, in severe cases, amputation for people with diabetes.
How High is "High" for a Diabetes Diagnosis?
The criteria for diagnosing diabetes is a fasting blood sugar level over 126 mg/dL. A level between 100-126 mg/dL is considered pre-diabetes. A normal blood sugar level should be no more than 100 mg/dL.
In addition to the standard blood sugar test, there’s another test called HbA1c, which measures your average blood sugar level over the past three months. A normal HbA1c should be below 5.7%. A value between 5.7-6.5% indicates pre-diabetes, and anything above 6.5% is considered diabetes. This test helps guide you on how to lower your blood sugar and adjust your lifestyle.
Four Common Symptoms of High Blood Sugar
The symptoms of high blood sugar can sometimes be confused with common everyday feelings. Let’s see which symptoms are real signs of a problem.
Symptom 1: Dry throat, frequent thirst
When blood sugar is high, the body loses water through urination. You’ll urinate more often, leading to dehydration and frequent thirst. However, this is not always easy to distinguish from normal thirst.Symptom 2: Irritability and moodiness
High blood sugar does not directly cause moodiness or irritability. However, when your body isn’t in a normal state, you might feel unwell and become easily frustrated. The feeling of happiness after eating sweets is likely because you enjoy the food, which boosts your mood.Symptom 3: Drowsiness
High blood sugar doesn’t directly cause sleepiness. Instead, high blood sugar can make you feel fatigued, weak, and wanting to rest.Symptom 4: Frequent urination
High blood sugar goes to the kidneys, causing them to excrete more urine. A simple sign to watch for is if you have to get up to use the bathroom 2-4 times a night. This could be a sign of diabetes. Most people only need to get up 1-2 times, and the total number of times you urinate per day depends on how much water you drink.
Three Ways to Prevent High Blood Sugar
You can prevent high blood sugar by changing your diet and lifestyle:
Avoid simple sugars found in sodas, fruit juices, and sweets.
Reduce carbohydrate intake, such as limiting the amount of rice you eat.
Exercise regularly to prevent obesity.
If you have high blood sugar and have been diagnosed with diabetes, it’s crucial to take your medication as prescribed and follow up with your doctor every 3-4 months. By making lifestyle changes and taking good care of your health, you have a good chance of controlling the disease.
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Source: Assistant Professor Sira Gopaisarn, M.D.
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University
Thai Health Promotion Foundation
