High blood sugar occurs when the body has too much glucose, or too little insulin. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International states that high blood sugar levels over long periods of time can lead to serious complications such as heart disease, blindness, kidney failure and amputation. Type 1 diabetes is characterized by deficient insulin production and requires daily administration of insulin. Type 2 diabetes results from the body's ineffective use of insulin. Symptoms of high blood sugar are similar in both types, but often less marked in type 2 diabetes. According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, type 2 diabetes accounts for 90 to 95 percent of the incidence of diabetes in the United States. A person with high blood sugar can exhibit one or several symptoms of the condition.
Extreme Thirst
The kidneys are the filtering system of the body. When there is too much sugar in the blood, the body tries to flush it out by producing more urine. Therefore, the body becomes dehydrated, which causes extreme thirst. Diabetics usually stay thirsty and feel like their thirst can't be quenched no matter how much they drink.
Extreme Hunger
Because the body isn't producing enough insulin or cannot use the insulin it is producing, the food that is consumed cannot be absorbed for energy. Therefore, the need to compensate for the lack of energy results in extreme hunger. This could become so severe that the hunger is felt even after a meal.
Frequent Urination
Frequent urination is a result of taking in more liquids because of the extreme thirst. It's also a way in which the body tries to rid itself of the excess sugar in the blood--it eliminates it via the bladder.
Constant Fatigue
The body is unable to absorb the glucose for energy and begins to slow down, which results in the constant need for rest. Some people can even feel tired after they having slept for long periods of time.
Weight Loss Despite the Increase in Appetite
Even though more food is being consumed to ward off extreme hunger, weight loss occurs. This is due to the lack of sugar being absorbed for energy, which causes the fat cells to shrink. This can happen at a rapid pace, as well.
Blurred Vision
Blurred vision occurs when the blood sugar levels are much higher than they should be. As the blood sugar rises, the body pulls fluid from the tissues to try and flush it out quickly. Sometimes, the fluid that is being pulled out comes from the lenses of the eyes, resulting in blurred vision.
