Are you more tired than usual? Do you feel thirstier during the day or hungrier than normal? Such changes can be normal and are often caused by a stressful week, lack of sleep or a change in your routine.
But if the changes don’t improve or you start to experience multiple changes, they should not be overlooked. Sometimes, symptoms can persist for some time and may be associated with fluctuations in blood sugar, so it’s important to talk to your healthcare professional.
The reason why these symptoms are easy to overlook lies with the gradual development of Type 2 diabetes, as opposed to occurring at once. Early identification of persistent symptoms of blood sugar fluctuations can help ensure prompt testing, diagnosis and improved management.
How Diabetes Is Diagnosed
Blood glucose tests are used to diagnose diabetes and a health care provider looks at symptoms and medical history. The most frequently ordered test is the fasting blood sugar, which checks your blood sugar level after not eating for at least 8 hours. If your reading is 7.0 mmol/L or higher on two separate tests, it is a diagnosis of diabetes.
Your health care provider may also suggest an HbA1c test, which will show you your average blood sugar over the last 2-3 months. In most cases, an HbA1c level of 6.5% or above also diagnoses diabetes. Once you have been diagnosed, you will need to continue monitoring your blood sugar to help you make decisions about future treatment.
Early testing is important, since diabetes is quite prevalent. From 2023 to 2024, 3.9 million Canadians had diagnosed diabetes and an additional 260,000 people had a new diagnosis. Early identification of symptoms and medical evaluation will help you to begin treatment sooner.
7 Common Blood Sugar Symptoms to Watch For
Not all blood sugar symptoms are the same and you might not have all the symptoms. Some see just one or two changes; others see several over a period of time. Knowing what each symptom can help you assess with a professional, particularly if you have noticed that you are experiencing changes such as:
- Increased thirst: The sugar in your bloodstream makes you thirstier than normal as your body draws water from your tissues to help balance the excess sugar.
- Frequent urination: Your kidneys excrete more water to get rid of the excess sugar in your blood, which leads to more frequent urination.
- Unusual fatigue: Your body is unable to get the energy it requires from food when glucose cannot get into cells properly, which can cause unusual fatigue even with adequate rest.
- Blurred vision: When blood sugar levels are high, fluid may be pulled into the lens of your eyes making it more difficult for the eyes to focus and your vision becomes blurry.
- Increased hunger: Despite eating, your cells may not be getting enough glucose and your body continues to send signals that make you feel hungry.
- Slow-healing wounds: When blood sugar is too high, blood flow is reduced and the natural healing process is affected, which means that any cuts, scrapes or minor wounds will take longer to heal.
- Unexplained weight loss: When cells can’t use glucose for energy, your body starts using the stored fat and muscle, which results in weight loss.
Could These Symptoms Have Other Causes?
Yes. Symptoms of blood sugar are not necessarily diabetes and should not be considered as a stand-alone diagnosis. Many common health issues can result in the same changes and it’s hard to determine the cause without examining the whole situation.
For example, dehydration and stress can leave you feeling unusually tired, thirsty, or low on energy. Infections, hormonal changes during pregnancy or perimenopause and thyroid conditions can also affect your appetite, weight, or bathroom habits, creating symptoms that closely resemble those seen with diabetes.
These symptoms can be confused with those of many other conditions and appropriate testing and a healthcare assessment are necessary before any conclusions are made. In fact, 6.3% of Canadian adults aged 20-79 were living with prediabetes without realizing it, which is why getting an early medical assessment is important.
Lifestyle Habits That Support Healthy Blood Sugar
Keeping blood sugar balanced doesn’t require an extreme lifestyle change or a perfect routine. Rather, it’s due to the habits you form each day. The best habits to maintain healthy blood sugar are:
- Balanced meals: Eating carbohydrates with proteins and fibres helps to release sugar into the blood slowly, resulting in a more stable blood sugar after eating.
- Regular physical activity: Exercise increases muscle activity, which helps the body use glucose better, making it easier to control blood sugar.
- Adequate sleep: Getting the proper amount of good sleep helps maintain proper levels of hormones, which further aid in blood sugar control throughout the day.
- Stress management: Stress techniques can reduce the amount of stress hormones that are released and impact blood sugar levels, which helps keep blood sugar levels stable over time.
- Hydration: Drinking enough fluids can help your kidneys work well and help control blood sugar levels.
- Maintaining a healthy weight: It is important to maintain a healthy weight to help the body respond to insulin more efficiently, helping to keep blood sugar levels stable naturally.
When Should You Seek Professional Attention?
When symptoms are not improving, getting worse or disrupting daily life, it is best to talk to a health care provider. Early assessment can help identify the cause before complications arise. If you notice these symptoms, consult a professional:
- Symptoms lasting for several weeks: If symptoms of increased thirst, unusual fatigue and frequent urination do not improve, it is important to have these symptoms evaluated by a health care provider.
- More than one symptom at the same time: Sometimes multiple symptoms can mean that a more complete medical evaluation is needed.
- A family history of diabetes: If a parent or sibling has diabetes, there might be an increased risk; then consult a health care provider.
- Abnormal blood sugar readings: If a home blood sugar test or laboratory test is outside of the normal range, schedule a follow-up test to determine the significance of the reading.
- Symptoms affecting your daily life: When symptoms begin to impact daily activities, work or sleep, it is time to see a health care provider.
Explore How Holistic Wellness Supports Diabetes Care!
Managing blood sugar is about more than test results. All of the factors involved with your eating habits, sleep, stress levels, physical activity and your daily routine contribute to your overall health. This whole-person approach will help you better understand these factors and make informed decisions with your health care provider.
Because everyone’s symptoms and lifestyle are different, the support you receive should be just as personal. That is the approach we follow at Soul Homeopathy, where we create personalized homeopathic care plans for diabetics that are designed to complement your existing medical care while considering your individual needs.
If you have been putting off your symptoms or waiting for them to improve on their own, this could be the right time to take the next step. Book a consultation with Soul Homeopathy today and start your journey with compassionate, personalized support that puts your health and well-being first.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Can blood sugar symptoms come and go?
Yes, a slight rise or fall in blood sugar can have symptoms that happen sometimes but not all the time, particularly in the early stages of prediabetes.
Q2. How long can Type 2 diabetes go undiagnosed?
Type 2 diabetes may go undiagnosed for several years because there may be few or no symptoms, or symptoms may be attributed to other causes.
Q3. Is thirst always a sign of diabetes?
No, in most cases, thirst is the sign of dehydration, hot weather or excess sodium and not necessarily a sign of blood sugar problems.
Q4. Can stress alone raise blood sugar levels?
Yes, stress hormones, such as cortisol, cause your liver to release more glucose, which raises your blood sugar, even if you don’t have diabetes.