High Blood Sugar

Symptoms

Symptoms of high blood sugar include:

• Increased thirst
• Increased urination
• Increased urination during the night
• Weight loss (This weight loss may be rapid)
• Frequent infections
• Tiredness
• Weakness
• Vision changes, such as blurred vision.
• Fruity smell to your breath.
• Stomach pain.

Diagnosis

Diabetes is diagnosed when blood sugar levels are too high. Your blood sugar level may be checked by one or more of the following blood tests:

• A fasting blood glucose test: greater than 126 mg/dL. You will not be allowed to eat for at least 8 hours before a blood sample is taken.
• A random blood glucose test: greater than 200 mg/dL. Your blood glucose is checked at any time of the day no matter when you last ate.
• A hemoglobin A1c blood glucose test: greater than 6.5%. A hemoglobin A1c test provides information about blood glucose control over the previous 3 months.
• An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT): greater than 200 mg/dL (commonly used during pregnancy). Your blood glucose is measured at least 1-3 hours after you have last eaten and then after you drink a glucose-containing beverage. Since the hormones that cause insulin resistance are highest at about 24-28 weeks of a pregnancy, an OGTT is usually done during that time. If you are at risk for gestational diabetes, your doctor may test you for gestational diabetes earlier than 24 weeks of pregnancy.