High blood sugar can show up in many different ways, and it’s not always easy to tell which symptoms require further investigation.
In many cases, people live with high blood sugar levels for years before being diagnosed with diabetes.
To raise awareness of the signs, one woman has shared the symptoms she wishes she had known were signs of unbalanced blood sugar levels.
Steph Robinson highlighted the early symptoms in a clip on TikTok titled the “key signs that your blood sugar is imbalanced and you need to get off sugar”.
Blood sugar fluctuations can pave the way for health complications
GETTY“When I figured out my blood sugar was imbalanced it fixed so many things - hormones, inflammation, puffiness, acne," Steph explained.
She noted that forehead acne, appearing as "little tiny bumps that are super inflamed," was a significant indicator.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has provided scientific backing to the connection between blood sugar and skin problems.
It explains that blood sugar spikes trigger inflammation throughout the body.
These spikes can also increase the body's production of sebum, an oily substance found in the skin.
"Both inflammation and excess sebum can lead to acne," notes the AAD.
Beyond skin changes, Steph noticed a shift in her appetite patterns, particularly "super aggressive cravings for sweets, breads and pasta".
She explained that missing meals could lead to becoming "super irritable" and light-headed.
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Early detection of diabetes can lead will ensure timely lifestyle interventions
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What's more, weight management difficulties became increasingly hard. Robinson stated: "If you are having a really hard time losing weight and you feel like you've tried everything."
Frequent urination was another symptom she identified as potentially indicating blood sugar issues.
While the jury is still out on whether healthy individuals should monitor blood glucose, the NHS recommends it to anyone at risk of developing diabetes.
Early detection can lead to timely intervention and help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.
