Living with diabetes requires regular monitoring and lifestyle adjustments to keep your blood sugar levels in check. However, there are times when diabetes can start to worsen, even with your best efforts. Recognizing the signs early on is crucial to managing the condition and preventing complications. In this blog, we’ll outline 12 signs that may indicate your diabetes is getting worse and explain how to respond.
How Do You Feel When Your Blood Sugar Is High?
You may experience a variety of mild to severe symptoms when your blood sugar levels are high. Common signs include:
A greater thirst: A high blood sugar level can lead to dehydration, resulting in an excessive thirst.
Frequent Urinary Needs: Your body may need to urinate more frequently as it tries to get rid of excess glucose.
Fatigue: A high blood sugar level makes it harder for your body to use glucose as an energy source, which can make you feel tired in a different way.
Blurred Vision: Elevated blood sugar levels can cause fluid imbalances, leading to blurred vision.
If you experience these symptoms on a regular basis, it may indicate that your diabetes is getting worse and that your blood sugar levels are not being properly controlled. Can someone with diabetes live a long life? If you actively manage your diabetes, you can, in fact, live a long and healthy life. Many people with diabetes lead normal lives by keeping their blood sugar levels within a healthy range, following a balanced diet, staying physically active, and working closely with healthcare providers to monitor and adjust medications. However, untreated or poorly managed diabetes can lead to serious complications, so it’s essential to stay on top of your health.
Can diabetes type 2 be reversed?
In some cases, type 2 diabetes can go into remission through significant lifestyle changes such as weight loss, a healthy diet, and regular exercise. However, it’s important to note that type 2 diabetes cannot be “cured” permanently. Even if your blood sugar levels return to normal, you must still control your lifestyle to maintain their stability. Diabetes can get worse over time if it is not taken care of.
Complications can result. How to Tell If Diabetes Is Worsening?
It’s important to regularly check for signs that your diabetes may be worsening. Twelve warning signs to look out for: 1. Hunger has increased. If you feel unusually hungry despite eating regular meals, it could indicate that your body is not processing glucose properly.
- Unexplained Weight Loss
Unexpected weight loss could be a sign that your body is using glucose improperly and is breaking down muscle and fat for energy, even if you are eating more. 3. More Frequent Infections
High blood sugar levels can weaken your immune system, making it harder to fight off infections. - Slow Healing of Wounds
When blood sugar is poorly controlled, your body struggles to heal wounds or cuts effectively. - Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet Nerve damage (neuropathy) from high blood sugar can cause tingling, numbness, or pain in the extremities.
- Blurred Vision
Elevated blood sugar levels can cause your eye lenses to swell, leading to blurry vision. - Dry Mouth and Skin
Dehydration caused by high blood sugar can result in dry mouth and skin. - Fatigue
Excess glucose in your blood means your cells aren’t getting the energy they need, which can lead to persistent fatigue. - Increased Thirst
If you’re constantly thirsty, it could be due to high blood sugar, which causes your body to become dehydrated. - Frequent Urination
Excess sugar in the bloodstream can cause your kidneys to work harder, leading to more frequent trips to the bathroom. - Skin that is dark Acanthosis Nigricans, which affects some diabetics and causes dark, velvety patches of skin in the armpits, neck, and groin, can be a sign that insulin resistance is getting worse. 12. Nausea or Vomiting
In diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), particularly severe cases of high blood sugar, nausea, vomiting, and even abdominal pain can occur. If you notice any of these symptoms, you should see a doctor right away for further testing and advice on how to get your diabetes under control again.
Conclusion:
To avoid serious complications and improve your overall health, it is essential to recognize the symptoms of worsening diabetes. By staying vigilant and making adjustments to your diet, exercise routine, and medication as needed, you can better manage your blood sugar and prevent your diabetes from getting worse.
Always monitor your condition closely with your healthcare provider, and don’t be afraid to get help if you notice any of the aforementioned warning signs. The sooner you take action, the better you can manage your diabetes and live a healthy, fulfilling life.