High blood sugar, or too much sugar in your blood, is not only a trouble for people with diabetes. It can also happen to people who do not have diabetes, especially after eating a lot of sugar or when they are stressed. High blood sugar can make you feel:
- Very thirsty
- Needing to go to the bathroom more often
- Having trouble seeing clearly
- Feeling sick or throwing up
- Having pain in your stomach
- Feeling tired or dizzy
- Having a headache
- High blood sugar happens when your body does not use or keep glucose well. Glucose is the main fuel for your cells. It comes from the food you eat and is moved by your blood to your organs and tissues.
- Insulin is a chemical that helps your cells get glucose. Sometimes, your body may not make enough insulin or your cells may not listen to it well. This is called insulin resistance or almost diabetes. It can make your blood sugar high over time and make you more likely to get type 2 diabetes.
- Stress chemicals, such as cortisol, can also make your blood sugar high. They do this by making your liver let out more glucose and making your cells less open to insulin. This can happen when you are hurt, sick, or very worried. It can also happen if you have a problem called Cushing’s syndrome, which is caused by too much cortisol in your body.
- High blood sugar can hurt your blood vessels and nerves over time. This can cause problems such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, eye problems, nerve problems, and infections. High blood sugar can also change your mood, memory, and focus.
- To stop or treat high blood sugar, you should eat healthy, move regularly, drink enough water, and stay away from smoking and alcohol. You should also check your blood sugar levels often and see your healthcare person if they are too high or too low. Your healthcare person may give you medicine or tell you to change your habits to help you control your blood sugar levels. The aim is to keep your blood sugar between 70 and 130 mg/dL before eating and below 180 mg/dL after eating.
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