Diabetes warning: The 2 ways you can spot high blood sugar when you go the loo
IF you’re diabetic then it’s likely at some point you would have suffered with high blood sugar.
It’s also known as hyperglycaemia, and there are some signs you can look out for especially when you go to the toilet.
It’s important to not confuse high blood sugar with hypoglycaemia, which is when a person’s blood sugar level drops too low, the NHS states.
The condition can impact both people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes as well as pregnant women with gestational diabetes.
It can sometimes affect people who don’t have diabetes, but this will usually be in people who have recently had a heart attack or stroke.
There are many symptoms of high blood sugar and one of the most prominent is an increased thirst and dry mouth.
Other symptoms include tiredness, blurred vision, unintentional weight loss, tummy pain or feeling or being sick.
But there are two main signs that you will likely experience and it’s important you watch out for them when you go to the loo.
Peeing a lot
Going to the toilet a lot is a sign of high blood sugar in diabetics, the NHS states.
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If your blood sugar levels are too high then this forces fluids from your cells.
This in turn increases the amount of fluid delivered to the kidneys, which makes you want to urinate more.
If you find yourself getting up in the middle of the night to pee then this is because your kidneys can’t keep up and need to get rid of the urine.
It’s also a sign of diabetes.
Infections
Urinary infections such as thrush and bladder infections are common in people who have high blood sugar.
You might not always know if you have an infection though and there are key ways you can spot if you have.
If you experience a burning sensation when you pee and you have pee that is cloudy then you could have an infection.
Blood in your pee is also a key sign of this and you should always speak to your GP if you experience this.
What should my blood sugar be?
Diabetics are urged to monitor their blood sugar levels and if you’re diabetic it’s likely you will have been given a device so you can do this at home.
You will be told what your average blood sugar level is and this is referred to as your HbA1c level.
While they differ for everyone, the NHS says that if you monitor your levels at home then a normal target is 4 to 7mmol/l before eating and under 8.5 to 9mmol/l 2 hours after a meal.
If it’s tested every few months then a normal HbA1c target is below 48mmol/mol (or 6.5% on the older measurement scale).
If you are worried about any of your symptoms you should see a GP.
In the event of an emergency, always call 999 or visit your closest A&E department.