Recent studies show that the pandemic has led to increased cases associated with diabetes. Inflammation caused by the virus may replicate within the pancreatic beta-cells responsible for the body’s insulin production. This further affects the secretion and synthesis of the property. As a result, one may experience severe symptoms of diabetes. While the health complications associated with excessive sugar intake are well-known, this underscores the urgency of recognizing the eight symptoms of high sugar intake.

8 signs that indicate excess sugar intake

Frequent urination
When your body has extra sugar, i.e., about 180 mg/DL in the blood, the kidneys work much harder to flush it through urine. The higher the sugar levels, the more it tries to send it out through urine. If you suddenly make more than 20 trips to the bathroom during the day, it is one of the first indications of excess sugar intake.

Heightened thirst
Feeling extremely thirsty without an apparent cause could indicate excess blood sugar intake. Sugar builds up in your blood when you eat high-carb or high-calorie foods. The kidneys work extra to push out the sugar through urine. If there is insufficient water to pass the sugar out, kidneys drain water from our body tissues. With less water in our tissues, you get dehydrated, and your body sends signals for water as thirst. It is vital to drink lots of water to keep the body hydrated and dilute the glucose in the bloodstream, but constant thirst can be a sign of high blood sugar.

The sudden or persistent sugar craving
Sugar cravings, many times, could be your body’s response to blood sugar imbalances rather than self-control. When your body metabolizes sugar, blood sugar levels rise, and the body releases insulin to bring it down to safe levels. If the blood levels go down too much, the body looks for sugar or glucose, resulting in a craving. Persistent or sudden sugar craving indicates excess sugar intake. If your blood sugar levels are normal, but you still have a craving, it may be because of a habit, conditioning, or a strong hormonal cycle.

Fatigue
After binging on sugary drinks or desserts, you normally feel energized as the pancreas releases insulin, which transfers the glucose to our cells. Once the glucose is used up, you may have low energy and fatigue. The rise and fall and fluctuation of sugar levels happen in cycles. If it is moderate, the energy levels remain the same. In contrast, if you have had too much sugar during a festive season, holidays, or vacations, the rise in sugar levels could be quickly followed by a severe crash. The sudden fall in energy levels after excess intake of sugar causes fatigue. This type of fatigue is called diabetic fatigue in prediabetics and diabetics. If you do not have diabetes, you can prevent this by consuming some form of protein or fiber with sugar.

Insomnia
Eating desserts before sleep causes a sudden rush of energy and keeps you awake. Also, serotonin is a chemical crucial for producing melatonin, which helps our body relax and sleep at night. High blood sugar can affect serotonin production; consequently, the body produces less melatonin. This cyclical impact of high sugar and low serotonin production can cause insomnia.

Increased hunger and fat gain
Foods with high sugar content are digested quickly and cause hunger quickly. When you eat more to satiate your hunger, the cycle begins again, leading to excess body fat. Our body uses a certain amount of blood sugar or glucose for energy. It converts the rest of the glucose and stores it as a reserve in our muscles and liver. This fat accumulates, especially if a person spends little time on physical activity or lives sedentary. The accumulated fat then begins to cause weight gain.

Moodiness and irritability
There is no doubt that sugar makes you happy as it releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter in our brain linked to happy emotions like satisfaction, motivation, and pleasure. However, the rise of blood sugar, the surge of energy, and the quick crash can cause irritability and sluggishness. If you feel irritated or moody at a specific time of the day or after a meal, the pattern could be caused by high sugar intake. Replace the carbs with protein to prevent mood changes.

Changes in the skin
When our kidney uses up the water in our body and tissues to flush the blood sugar out of our system, dehydration and excessive thirst set in. The dehydration affects the skin, too, as it becomes very dry. Prolonged high blood sugar levels can cause fatty deposits in the blood vessels, making them narrow. It may slow down blood circulation, and the skin in your legs and feet may become itchy. Dry skin and itchiness in the legs and feet indicate excess blood sugar.

If you notice one or more of these signs, it is better to seek the advice of a doctor near you and explore the different treatment options to prevent prediabetes, type 1, or type 2 diabetes. Undetected and untreated diabetes can lead to multiple complications. 

Five major complications caused by diabetes
The five main complications of undiagnosed and untreated diabetes are retinopathy, cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney diseases, foot problems leading to amputation, and nerve damage. Based on your current health condition, age, and complications, doctors use one or more of the following approaches to treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes:

Treatment of underlying diseases, if any
Regular monitoring of blood sugar levels
Use of oral or injectable insulin
Islet cell transplant
Bariatric surgery to control and reduce weight, in rare cases
Food modification
Regular exercise

Diabetes and chronic kidney disease
More than 40% of people with kidney diseases have diabetes. This happens because high blood sugar damages the blood vessels and nephrons in the kidney, leading to loss of kidney function and failure. This condition is called chronic kidney disease. While there is no cure for CKD, doctors use a combination of oral prescription treatments, dialysis, food modification, and exercise to prevent and manage symptoms. They may recommend a kidney transplant for some based on their symptoms’ severity, age, and overall health condition.

Health centers for diabetes
Health centers for diabetes are specialized hospitals and clinics that detect prediabetes and type 1 and type 2 diabetes in young children, teens, and adults. These centers have highly qualified and experienced doctors, technicians, labs, and the latest equipment to screen and treat diabetes. They also employ nutritionists and wellness experts who help patients plan menus and weekly exercise routines. Plus, they employ counselors who can help children and adults cope with the impact of life-long diabetes and help them adapt to a healthier lifestyle.

Studies show that the pandemic has led to increased cases associated with diabetes. Inflammation caused by the virus may replicate within the pancreatic beta-cells responsible for the body’s insulin production. This further affects the secretion and synthesis of the property. As a result, one may experience severe symptoms of diabetes.