4. More frequent trips to the bathroom
You may need to urinate more often than usual. This is a common sign of high blood sugar levels. Because your body doesn’t process the sugar in the blood, it builds up and finds its way to your kidneys. There, your kidneys work under pressure to filter and then absorb this excess sugar. Your kidneys will in all likelihood not be able to keep up the pace. Then the excess sugar gets into your urine. As it goes into the urine, it takes with it other fluids. This results in the bladder being filled with more fluid than usual, prompting your need for more bathroom breaks. This symptom of high blood sugar levels is called polyuria.
In classic cases of polyuria, you may pass as much as 3 liters of urine in a 24-hour period. The average adult passes 1-2 liters of urine in that time. If you start experiencing what you think is polyuria, get your blood sugar levels tested as soon as you can. While there are other causes of polyuria, it is associated with raised blood sugar levels and diabetes.
Left undiagnosed, high blood sugar levels can lead to a diabetic coma and death. Take the symptoms of polyuria seriously. Because high blood sugar levels are so dangerous, your doctor will want to eliminate them first before he/she looks at any other causes. Even people who know they have diabetes and are taking insulin can develop polyuria. It is an indication that their medication is not working, and their blood sugar levels are not coming down.
Polyuria could be an indicator of kidney disease, liver failure, or Cushing’s syndrome. If you have chronic diarrhea, it can also occur. Taking diuretic medicines or drinking a lot of coffee can also lead to polyuria.