-
Overview
Blood sugar imbalances occur when there is too much or too little glucose in the bloodstream. This may be caused from dietary habits, such as not eating enough or overeating, particularly overeating foods high in sugar. Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, also cause fluctuations in blood sugar, which can produce noticeable symptoms. Depending on the situation, symptoms may be brief and last for only a few hours, or persist for weeks or months. If left untreated, high or low blood sugar can cause serious long-term damage to the body and result in coma or death.
Low Blood Sugar: Physical Symptoms
Glucose, also known as blood sugar, is an essential source of energy for the body that is responsible for proper cellular and brain function. When an individual suffers from low blood sugar, it is referred to as hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia can produce several physical symptoms, including persistent hunger, increased heart rate, sweating and a sensation of shaking throughout the limbs, particularly in the arms and hands.
Low Blood Sugar: Mental Symptoms
When blood sugar is imbalanced due to hypoglycemia, it may also produce mental and emotional symptoms. Two of the most common symptoms are anxiety and irritability. A frontal lobe or temple headache usually accompanies these symptoms as well. In moderate or serious cases of hypoglycemia, slurred speech, decreased motor function such as hand/eye coordination and blurred vision may also be experienced. A loss of consciousness can also be a symptom of severe blood sugar imbalances resulting from hypoglycemia.
High Blood Sugar: Symptoms
The opposite side of the spectrum from hypoglycemia is hyperglycemia, when there is too much glucose in the bloodstream. Hyperglycemia creates easily identifiable physical symptoms, including increased thirst, increased urination and frequent fatigue. A counter intuitive symptom of high blood sugar is increased hunger. Like individuals experiencing blood sugar imbalance due to hypoglycemia, irritability is also a symptom of hyperglycemia.
High Blood Sugar: Long-Term Symptoms
Untreated hyperglycemia can also produce long-term symptoms that can develop after weeks or months of imbalanced blood sugar. These symptoms include weight loss, increased susceptibility to rashes and yeast infections, impotence and dry skin. Individuals who have persistently high blood sugar may also have more trouble healing cuts, bruises and other skin lesions.
Sugar Rush: Symptoms
When an individual ingests too much sugar, he may experience a brief bout of hyperglycemia followed by spell of hypoglycemia. This pattern is colloquially referred to as a sugar high, or sugar rush, and is characterized by a sudden increase in frantic energy, increased irritability and rapid speech pattern, followed by a sharp decline that yields symptoms of headache, sweating and light tremors.
