Thirst, Frequent Urination and Blurred Vision: High Blood Sugar Signs: High Blood Sugar Signs
The classic signs of high blood sugar, why they happen, and the ones that need same-day attention rather than an appointment next month.
These three appear together for a reason, and they're worth knowing because they're frequently explained away.
Why they happen
When blood glucose rises above a certain level, the kidneys can no longer reabsorb it all and glucose spills into the urine. Glucose in urine pulls water with it by osmosis.
That produces frequent urination, which causes fluid loss, which produces thirst. The thirst is the body responding correctly to dehydration it's creating.
Blurred vision happens because the lens of the eye swells and changes shape as fluid shifts with changing glucose levels. It fluctuates rather than steadily worsening, which is why people often assume they need new glasses.
The others that travel with them
Unexplained weight loss, because glucose is being lost in urine rather than used.
Fatigue.
Slow-healing cuts.
Recurrent infections — thrush, urinary infections, skin infections.
Increased hunger alongside weight loss, which is a distinctive combination.
What to do about them
Any of these, persistently, warrants a glucose test. Not a dietary experiment first.
Several of them together warrants prompt attention rather than waiting for a routine appointment.
The ones that need same-day care
I want to be specific here because this is the part where delay matters.
Very high thirst and urination with vomiting, abdominal pain, rapid breathing, drowsiness or breath that smells fruity or of pear drops needs urgent medical attention. That combination can indicate diabetic ketoacidosis, which is a medical emergency.
This is more common in type 1, including in adults with newly developing type 1 who have been told they have type 2. But it is not exclusively so, and it can be precipitated by illness or by certain medications.
If that describes what's happening, this is an emergency department situation rather than a doctor’s appointment.
On getting brushed off
Several people report having these symptoms attributed to heat, stress, age or drinking too much coffee.
If you have them and they persist, ask directly for a glucose test. It's a simple, cheap, widely available test, and asking for it by name usually works.
Try this week: if you've been unusually thirsty and going to the toilet more for more than a week or two, get tested.
Education, not medical advice. The symptom combination described above requires urgent medical attention.