Diabetes

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.

HgA1C

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

Average Blood Sugar

97

126

154

183

212

240

269

298

326

355

In a medical emergency, call 911.