There are five symptoms generally associated with high blood sugar, as well as a few other
warning signs you should be aware of.
1 -- Are you thirsty all the time?
Increased thirst is one of the classic high blood sugar symptoms. There's a reason for this. Your body is trying to wash the excess blood sugar -- also called "blood glucose" -- out of your system. Your body needs more fluids to wash the glucose out, so you become thirsty and drink more.
2 -- Do you make more visits to the restroom?
Another classic symptom is having to urinate almost as frequently as you get something to drink. This only makes sense, since you're taking so much fluid in. But remember your body is also trying to wash the blood sugar out -- and the fastest way out is to urinate.
Sugar in the urine was one of the earliest tests for high blood sugar and diabetes. It used to be standard to check the urine with glucose test strips, which indicated whether high amounts of glucose were present.
3 -- Do you feel generally fatigued or tired?
Fatigue can be a symptom of so many things, even of not getting enough sleep. But if you are thirsty and urinate more frequently, then feeling tired or fatigued might well be associated with high blood sugar symptoms.
The reason for fatigue from high blood sugar is because the blood sugar isn't going into your cells where you need it for energy. Your cells need glucose for energy to grow and heal, but the glucose isn't moving into the cells. It's staying in your bloodstream. When your cells don't get energy, you aren't going to feel very energetic either.
4 -- Is your eyesight getting blurry?
High blood sugar over time can affect your blood vessels. Some of the more easily affected blood vessels are in your eyes. If your vision changes or becomes blurry for any reason, you should see an eye doctor. Not only for glasses or contact lenses, but their exams can often detect other problems such as high blood sugar.
5 -- Do you have changes in your disposition?
I don't mean the onset of personality disorders or anything like that. But the fatigue that results from high blood sugar is not limited to physical fatigue. It can affect how you feel day-to-day. You can become irritable and touchy. Or emotionally tired and lackadaisical. You may not care as much about things or even people that you ordinarily would feel strongly about.
Some other warning signs to watch out for are:
Sudden Weight Loss -- The reason for this can be the same thing that causes you to feel fatigued. Glucose is not getting into your cells for energy. Your body has to get energy from somewhere, so you start to burn fat for energy. This is usually diagnosed as type 1 diabetes.
Burning fat instead of glucose for energy makes you lose weight, but it also produces toxic by-products known as "ketones". If your body is producing ketones, you are in what is called the state of "ketosis". This can become dangerous rather quickly, becoming "diabetic ketoacidosis," or "DKA".
The signs of DKA include a flushed appearance, dehydration, exhaustion, shock, and eventual unconsciousness. Severe DKA requires immediate and expert medical care. If you are experiencing these symptoms then see your doctor right away, as in immediately.
Overweight, Especially Around Your Abdomen -- The unhappy opposite of weight loss is overweight or obesity. Being overweight can be a result of overeating, not enough exercise, and other causes. But if your cells aren't getting enough glucose, it may be because you are "insulin resistant".
In simple terms, insulin is the key that unlocks your cells to let the glucose in. If your cells become resistant to insulin, then they remain locked and the glucose doesn't get in. So your body produces even more insulin to overcome the resistance.
Some of the glucose gets into your cells for energy. But that still leaves a lot of insulin in your bloodstream. And that insulin is used to store energy as fat. Insulin that doesn't get used by the cells makes you fatter.
Worse than that, when you get fatter, your insulin resistance increases. So it takes even more insulin to do the job next time. This is the cycle that is usually diagnosed as type 2 diabetes.
As you can see, high blood sugar symptoms can be warning signs of diabetes. It is very important that you see your doctor as soon as you can. He or she can quickly check your fasting blood sugar levels and determine if further tests are needed.
High blood sugar and diabetes can be treated and you can live a full and healthy life. But the first thing to do if you are experiencing these symptoms is see your doctor.
Frequently Asked Questions
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QUESTION:
Can Kidney stones be a symptom or warning sign of any other conditons?
i havent actually had much kidney stone pain lately, but the blood in my pee hasnt stopped since i had them a couple months ago. Could it be something else? iv had tests done for infections and stuff done a couple months ago when i first expierenced the pains and stuff??-
ANSWER:
typically kidney stones are the result of either a proteus infection or an imbalance in the calcium in your body which results in excess calcium secretion. Most other disease processes would have other symptoms that obvious to you... start with the most likely.the blood in your urine may be caused by the presence of stones that simply haven't obstructed the kidney outlets. Blood in your urine may also be from some process going on in your bladder as well.
if your blood is visible in your urine, you need to be check again: upper and lower urinary tracts. I would suggest starting with your GP who should know your history and going from there.
Hope this helps. Peace
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QUESTION:
Need advice for treating kidney stones.... home remedy style.?
We took my boyfriend to the hospital on Friday and he was diagnosed w/ a kidney stone. 2-3mm. He's having another attack right now... and he's in the bathroom throwing up and won't listen to any advice i'm trying to give him currently. Hm. I'm asking him to just drink a lot of water or apply a heating pad, but he says he's too sick. I know he's in a lot of pain... he usually doesn't show it.
Um. What are some warning signs that I should take him into the ER again? Also, he's already on perscription pain meds for this... but it doesn't seem to help. Any advice on some more home remedies?-
ANSWER:
I can understand what your boyfreind must be going through as i too had the same problem. Give him painkillers. An intraveinal injection does wonders. Make an appiontment with the doctor and have the stone either removed surgically or broken. a 2-3 mm stone can easily be broken by applyin shock waves. It is painless takes about 10 min and leaves no scar as the skin is never opened. BEST OF LUCK
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QUESTION:
Kidney Stone Growth and Passage. Help!?
I just had my first warning sign that I will soon pass a kidney stone. (Extreme sharp pain at the tip of my urethra.) This has me very worried (and terrified to go to the restroom!)I've passed many kidney stones over the last five years (I'm 18 years old, male, 5'9" 140 lbs, and otherwise healthy.) Passing kidney stones have been by far the worst experience of my life. My question now is, 1) How fast do Kidney Stones grow? It's been a while now since I've passed one, does that mean that the stone is going to be bigger this time because it's had longer to grow?
2) Is there anything I can do over the next day or so that I'm passing the stone besides taking Vicodin? The worst part of the experience by FAR is going to the restroom, knowing that I could pass the stone at any time. I've had at least one incidence of the stone getting stuck halfway out of my urethra. (With an unpleasant "milking" required to remove the stone.) Any tips for stone passage?
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ANSWER:
Hi, sorry to hear about your case.The rate at which kidney stone formation varies from person to person so to come up with an average rate at which they form is not really practical. For people who have never had a kidney stone before, formation of a stone would take place very slowly if at all. In your case it's faster. That is not to say that your stone will necessarily be larger as a direct result of the length of time between this next one and your last one. For all you know, your body may have just been forming it in the past month.
Formation of a stone is somewhat like a snowball rolling down a mountain and gathering size. Your kidneys may have been passing the calcium oxalate (most common kind of stone) just fine and then somehow, some of it did not dissolve and got stuck in your kidney. Then more calcium oxalate may crystallize in the presence of the first bit of calcium oxalate crystal causing the snowballing effect and the stone progressively gets larger.
Prevention is key in your situation. You should figure out which kind of stone you are developing, as the causes vary depending on the type of stone. One thing to do in all cases is to keep your water intake high. You should drink enough so that you have plenty of urine to keep it clear or really light in color. I think you want to avoid having urine that is too acidic (sorry, been a few years since school). If it's an oxalate stone, you may want to avoid foods high in oxalate, such as iced tea (Nestea/Lipton, etc.), spinach, chocolate, and others. High protein intake can cause uric acid stones (for example, bodybuilders load up on protein shakes and powders and eat meat all the time). Some say you should cut back on your calcium intake. I am not sure if that should be undertaken unless you consult your doctor. Again, depending on the type of stone you will need to make different dietary adjustments.
Most stones are not so problematic that you need to do anything besides take pain medication if needed. There really isn't much else you can do (on your own that is) other than drink a lot of water, as maybe that could prevent the stone from getting any larger.
You can probably do a Google search and find some good information and probably more details on what to do. Please see your doctor to help you with your condition. Besides, depending on your other medical conditions, some of these things may not be the best for you, and he/she will be able to give you more help than anyone on Yahoo! Answers or the internet.
Good luck!
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QUESTION:
Once a kidney stone has been passed?
I'm 32, and I just had my first kidney stone experience. Hell on Earth. Woke up very early Tuesday morning in indescribable pain, did the Emergency Room thing, and spent the next 3 days slowly passing the 3-4mm stone.The stone was passed Friday. It's now Sunday, and I am still sore and have aches in the area of my kidney. Kind of like someone had been kicking me there for a long time. I assume this is normal and not some warning sign. Ive also caught a flu with a slight fever (from my children), likely because after 3 days of no sleep and passing a stone my resistence was down.
So what should someone expect AFTER they pass a stone? I tried mowing the lawn today (2 days after passing the stone) and the back muscles are still sore as heck.
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ANSWER:
You need to rest and recuperate.Don't do anything too strenuous.You may have more stone's.Did they explain that?You can drink cranberry juice to help the urinary tract.When my brother passed one they said he turned green from the pain.Good luck.
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QUESTION:
Does anyone know the symptoms of Appendicitis?
My dad has been having severe pain off and on right below the right side of his rib cage for about 3 weeks now. We don't think it is kidney stones since it's infront right below his ribs not in the lower back where most kidney stone pain occurs. My mom and other family members are assuming it could possibly be his appendix. But, we do not know. I live about an hour away from my family and just saw my dad 2 days ago. He can cover his pain very well. When he thought no-one was looking I did catch him clutching his side tightly and bending over and was moaning. My mom said this has been happening alot more and is more constant. When we ask him about the pain he gets angry and says don't worry about it. He does not believe in Doctors, so him going to the Dr. is out of the question. He has no health insurance coverage due to the fact that he has no intentions EVER of going to the Dr. which makes all of this even more frustrating for the people who care about him. He has not had any type of a physical exam by a Dr. in over 10 years. If this is or could be Appendicitis, we do know that it could rupture and cause death but, how long will the pain last before it ruptures and what are the final warning signs? Or if anyone has any clue what this could be please let me know?-
ANSWER:
Its not appendicitis...First off he had appendicitis it would be accompanied by high fever,vomiting and severe pain. The myth that kidney stone pain is only felt in the back is just that. Kidney Stones are most often felt in the front. He should be seen by a Doctor because whatever it is could be major and without treatment could cause more damage. Urge him to be seen by a professional immediately. Tell him an RN said so!
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QUESTION:
Pelvic pain -- going on hours - what do I do?
I went into the emergency room last night with insane stomach pains. It started around my belly button and has since moved to the right side about midway between my belly button and hip. At first, I thought it might have been menstrual cramps, as I had started my period the morning before. This was quickly dismissed as time went on. The pain started around 3:30p yesterday (12/19).I was hit by a wave of nausea that has yet to leave me. It hurt worse when I stood up, moved, lay down - about the only position I can get some relieve from is in a semi-curled up ball, with my knees pulled up. It is very tender to the touch and hurts worse when the pressure is released (if I push on it, it hurts - when I let go, it hurts worse.)
As I mentioned, I am on my period (which was an unusual three days late and has been lighter than normal).
When I got to the emergency room, they set me up with an IV and pain killers (toprical?), however it didn't really work, so then they gave me a dose of morphine.
They also told me that I was not pregnant.
They did a CT scan and said that my ovaries were not twisted and that my appendix looked alright. They sent me home basically saying that they felt it was menstrual cramps. I disagree, seeming as how I was having menstrual cramps and this pain at the same time. Menstrual cramps, in my experience, will come on strongly and then go away (much like a contraction ... I've been pregnant twice and carried both babies to full term, if that makes a difference.) This pain is constant. It is sharp and kind of dull/achy at the same time.
On the way home from the emergency room, I had to have my husband pull over and I threw up on the side of the road. Up until that point (and ever since) I've been extremely nauseous, but no vomiting.
I have also had an increase in my urine - however, due to the period, I can't tell you accurately its color.
She told me that if it didn't get better in 12-24 hours, that I needed to be monitored again.
Since then, I have developed a low grade fever (99.1 - which is high for me) and have developed massive headaches, chills and the shakes. The pain has stayed at about a 6 out of 10, however when I picked up my one year old to go to bed, the pain was excruciating and has since stayed at about a 7 or so.
My family has no history of appendicitis or kidney stones. My older brother on the other hand, was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. Not sure if any of that knowledge is helpful...
I'm very scared and extremely nervous. I'm hoping to make it through the night and be able to go to the walk-in clinic in the morning. (My husband is self-employed, so we have extremely basic insurance ... ER visits not covered.)
Is there anything in particular that if it happens can not wait until morning? Any warning signs I should look out for?
If I call the ER nurses, can they answer these questions for me?
Please, if you have any insight, please respond.
I am also experiencing headaches and slight dizziness.
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ANSWER:
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QUESTION:
Having severe abdominal pain for 24+ hours -- already been to ER .. what should I do now?
I went into the emergency room last night with insane stomach pains. It started around my belly button and has since moved to the right side about midway between my belly button and hip. At first, I thought it might have been menstrual cramps, as I had started my period the morning before. This was quickly dismissed as time went on. The pain started around 3:30p yesterday (12/19).I was hit by a wave of nausea that has yet to leave me. It hurt worse when I stood up, moved, lay down - about the only position I can get some relieve from is in a semi-curled up ball, with my knees pulled up. It is very tender to the touch and hurts worse when the pressure is released (if I push on it, it hurts - when I let go, it hurts worse.)
As I mentioned, I am on my period (which was an unusual three days late and has been lighter than normal).
When I got to the emergency room, they set me up with an IV and pain killers (toprical?), however it didn't really work, so then they gave me a dose of morphine.
They also told me that I was not pregnant.
They did a CT scan and said that my ovaries were not twisted and that my appendix looked alright. They sent me home basically saying that they felt it was menstrual cramps. I disagree, seeming as how I was having menstrual cramps and this pain at the same time. Menstrual cramps, in my experience, will come on strongly and then go away (much like a contraction ... I've been pregnant twice and carried both babies to full term, if that makes a difference.) This pain is constant. It is sharp and kind of dull/achy at the same time.
On the way home from the emergency room, I had to have my husband pull over and I threw up on the side of the road. Up until that point (and ever since) I've been extremely nauseous, but no vomiting.
I have also had an increase in my urine - however, due to the period, I can't tell you accurately its color.
She told me that if it didn't get better in 12-24 hours, that I needed to be monitored again.
Since then, I have developed a low grade fever (99.1 - which is high for me) and have developed massive headaches, chills and the shakes. The pain has stayed at about a 6 out of 10, however when I picked up my one year old to go to bed, the pain was excruciating and has since stayed at about a 7 or so.
My family has no history of appendicitis or kidney stones. My older brother on the other hand, was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. Not sure if any of that knowledge is helpful...
I'm very scared and extremely nervous. I'm hoping to make it through the night and be able to go to the walk-in clinic in the morning. (My husband is self-employed, so we have extremely basic insurance ... ER visits not covered.)
Is there anything in particular that if it happens can not wait until morning? Any warning signs I should look out for?
If I call the ER nurses, can they answer these questions for me?
Please, if you have any insight, please respond.
I am also experiencing a headache that will not go away and slight dizziness.-
ANSWER:
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QUESTION:
17 weeks pregnant uterine rupture?
OK, I had my dd in Feb. 2009. I got pregnant again in June 2009.
My doctor said i was "kinda" high risk. But never told me for sure.
She said I could have a Uterine rupture. Ok, Now, When i found out i was pregnant i didnt have symptoms yet, or missed my period yet. I was sitting down one day, and my previous c-section scar started to hurt.
I started to have sharp pains, they were light though. I never had problems whith my scar after it healed. It took me almost 9 weeks to heal from my previous. I was also in the hospital for 8 days from a alias. So, when the sharp light pain started i was like what could be causing this? Than i took a pregnancy test. I know at my 6 week check up the doctor told me to wait 18 months. Well, I had a schedualed pap in july, so i waited for that appointment no point in making two different appointments. So, I told her i was pregnant and she took another test and of course it was positive. So,
I started my prenatal care. On my second visit, I told the doctor that the sharp pains is gradually getting a little more painful. She told me it was probably adhesions and not to worry, i'd have some discomfort. On my third prenatal visit, I told her again, it's hapening more frequent with the sharp pains, now it's radiating across my insicion, and i tried to describe this to her, and sometimes the sharp pain is hurts and it actually makes me stop in in dead tracks...and i wait for the sharp pain to subside and so forth. but now it's getting worse, and it's happening more and more through out the day, at the begining, it was light, and only happened once in awhile, now that im 17 weeks it's happening ALOT through the day and the pain is more painful than before. It's more of a sharper pain and
it varies on the location of the scar. She told me that she think's it's kidney stones, and to drink alot of water to pass it. So i have been drinking alot of water, for the past month, and still nothing has changed. I KNOW she is wrong I can sense it. I just "know". My bf had alot of kidney stone problems his were recurring, and he had to have a few surgeries to remove them. I told him what i was experiencing and he said that doesnt sound like it at all...and i totally agreed. So now i'm worried that this could be a early warning sign that something is wrong. Oh, and when i was pregnant with my first daughter, i felt her moving around by now....and i dont feel this one at ALL...I still have my pregnancy symtoms. Also, i've only gained 1lbs. so far. Not saying that has anything to do with it, but just giving some more info on my situation. I have a ultrasound coming up soon, the second week of november, should i mention this to the ultrasound tech? and see if they can see antyhing? I know that when i was healing from my first one,
i went ot the ER because i had seroma, and they did a ultrasound on my scar tissue, and it was a totally different kind of Ultrasound. So i dont know if the ultrasound tech will be able to see the scar tissue or not. Should I get a second opinion? because i'm really really worried....I really dont want to end up in a bad situation if it can be prevented. But this doctor doesnt seem worried about it, and i need reassurance, and not just blown off.
She hasnt even done any tests on me, to even see if it's kidney stones or adhesions...all the reasons she told me, she hasnt even looked into.
and that really bothers me, because the like the said the pain seems to be gradually getting worse. Should i worry, if the doc isnt worried?
should i gets a second opionon? I really dont know what to do..I would like some advise.
I know my uterus hasnt ruptured.
I am worried it could. I dont know how worried I should be with this pain.
Everyone i talked to with previous c-section, dont experience this. I just want the doctor to aswer my questions instead of beating around the bush,
If there is something wrong i want to catch it before it turns ugly later on....-
ANSWER:
I don't know what the pain is, but I know your uterus hasn't ruptured. My uterus ruptured during labor. It felt like a searing/burning pain in the abdomen (not on the c-section scar) and you would be hemorrhaging.
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QUESTION:
17 weeks pregnant with 2nd child, i'm afraid of uterine rupture, what should i do?
OK, I had my dd in Feb. 2009. I got pregnant again in June 2009.
My doctor said i was "kinda" high risk. But never told me for sure.
She said I could have a Uterine rupture. Ok, Now, When i found out i was pregnant i didnt have symptoms yet, or missed my period yet. I was sitting down one day, and my previous c-section scar started to hurt.
I started to have sharp pains, they were light though. I never had problems whith my scar after it healed. It took me almost 9 weeks to heal from my previous. I was also in the hospital for 8 days from a alias. So, when the sharp light pain started i was like what could be causing this? Than i took a pregnancy test. I know at my 6 week check up the doctor told me to wait 18 months. Well, I had a schedualed pap in july, so i waited for that appointment no point in making two different appointments. So, I told her i was pregnant and she took another test and of course it was positive. So,
I started my prenatal care. On my second visit, I told the doctor that the sharp pains is gradually getting a little more painful. She told me it was probably adhesions and not to worry, i'd have some discomfort. On my third prenatal visit, I told her again, it's hapening more frequent with the sharp pains, now it's radiating across my insicion, and i tried to describe this to her, and sometimes the sharp pain is hurts and it actually makes me stop in in dead tracks...and i wait for the sharp pain to subside and so forth. but now it's getting worse, and it's happening more and more through out the day, at the begining, it was light, and only happened once in awhile, now that im 17 weeks it's happening ALOT through the day and the pain is more painful than before. It's more of a sharper pain and
it varies on the location of the scar. She told me that she think's it's kidney stones, and to drink alot of water to pass it. So i have been drinking alot of water, for the past month, and still nothing has changed. I KNOW she is wrong I can sense it. I just "know". My bf had alot of kidney stone problems his were recurring, and he had to have a few surgeries to remove them. I told him what i was experiencing and he said that doesnt sound like it at all...and i totally agreed. So now i'm worried that this could be a early warning sign that something is wrong. Oh, and when i was pregnant with my first daughter, i felt her moving around by now....and i dont feel this one at ALL...I still have my pregnancy symtoms. Also, i've only gained 1lbs. so far. Not saying that has anything to do with it, but just giving some more info on my situation. I have a ultrasound coming up soon, the second week of november, should i mention this to the ultrasound tech? and see if they can see antyhing? I know that when i was healing from my first one,
i went ot the ER because i had seroma, and they did a ultrasound on my scar tissue, and it was a totally different kind of Ultrasound. So i dont know if the ultrasound tech will be able to see the scar tissue or not. Should I get a second opinion? because i'm really really worried....I really dont want to end up in a bad situation if it can be prevented. But this doctor doesnt seem worried about it, and i need reassurance, and not just blown off.
She hasnt even done any tests on me, to even see if it's kidney stones or adhesions...all the reasons she told me, she hasnt even looked into.
and that really bothers me, because the like the said the pain seems to be gradually getting worse. Should i worry, if the doc isnt worried?
should i gets a second opionon? I really dont know what to do..I would like some advise.-
ANSWER:
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QUESTION:
Warning Notice at work? Hubby has been out 10 X from work, but hasnt been there a year yet. They asked him to?
sign a document that says that if he is out 1 more time, he will be fired for CAUSE and as such will be reported to Unemployment as cause for them to request disqualification of unemployment benefits...Now for every instance of absence, he has provided a medical note, either for my toddler daughter or for himself. Sometimes when my daughter was sick, we had to alternate who stays with her (we have no help), and he just recently had kidney stones and it took him 3 days to recover.
How do we protect ourselves from being able to collect in case he gets fired? Should he sign the doc?-
ANSWER:
1st - I wouldn't sign such a document.2nd - The employer doesn't get to determine what is "cause for firing" as it pertains to unemployment benefits. The State will investigate the claim and make the determination as to eligibility of benefits.
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