10 signos de diabetes no controlada

Uncontrolled diabetes doesn’t always kick down the door with dramatic music. Sometimes it shows up like an annoying app update:
small, persistent, and suddenly everything is running… weird. You’re thirstier than a cactus in a sauna. You’re peeing like it’s your
new hobby. Your vision gets blurry at the exact moment you need to read something important. Fun!

This article breaks down 10 common signs of uncontrolled diabetes (aka blood sugar that’s running high more often than it should),
explains why they happen, and shares practical next steps. You’ll also get a clear “don’t-wait-on-this” list of red flags that can signal a
blood-sugar emergency.

Quick safety note: This is general health informationnot personal medical advice. If you think your diabetes is not controlled, contact your healthcare team. If you have severe symptoms (especially vomiting, trouble breathing, or confusion), seek urgent care right away.

What “uncontrolled diabetes” usually means (in real life)

Diabetes becomes “uncontrolled” when your blood glucose is frequently outside the target range you and your clinician setmost commonly
too high (hyperglycemia). That can happen for lots of reasons: illness, stress, changes in routine, missed doses, not enough medication,
insulin not matching meals, sleep issues, or just… life being life.

The tricky part: you can have elevated blood sugar for a while and only notice subtle changes. That’s why symptoms matterbut so do
numbers from a meter or CGM and lab results like A1C. Consider symptoms as your body’s push notifications: they’re trying to help, even if
they’re doing it in the most inconvenient way possible.

10 signs your diabetes may not be under control

1) Frequent urination (especially at night)

If you’re peeing more oftenparticularly waking up multiple times at nightyour kidneys may be working overtime to clear extra glucose from
your blood. Glucose pulls water with it, so your body loses fluid faster than usual.

Real-life example: You start planning your day around restroom locations like you’re mapping treasure sites. (Except the treasure is… not treasure.)

2) Constant thirst or dry mouth

When you urinate more, you get dehydrated more easily. Your body responds with intense thirst, dry mouth, and that feeling like you could
drink the entire ocean (with a side of ice, please).

Tip: thirst that feels “unquenchable,” especially paired with frequent urination, is a classic hyperglycemia combo.

3) Feeling unusually hungryeven after eating

When insulin isn’t doing its job well (or there isn’t enough of it), glucose can’t move efficiently from your bloodstream into your cells for energy.
Your cells act like they’re underfedeven if you just ateso your brain sends hunger signals.

How it can look: You eat a normal meal, and 30–60 minutes later you’re rummaging the kitchen like a raccoon with a deadline.

4) Fatigue, low energy, or “brain fog”

High blood sugar can leave you feeling drained because your cells aren’t accessing energy smoothly. Dehydration doesn’t help either.
Many people describe it as “walking through wet cement” or “my brain has 37 tabs open and none are loading.”

If fatigue is new, persistent, and out of proportion to your sleep and schedule, it’s worth checking your glucose patterns and talking to your clinician.

5) Blurry vision (that comes and goes)

High blood sugar changes fluid balance in the body, including in the eyes. That can temporarily affect how well your lenses focus, causing blurry vision.
If your vision suddenly changes, don’t just blame your screen timeyour glucose may be part of the story.

Important: Ongoing high blood sugar can contribute to eye complications over time, so recurring or persistent vision changes deserve medical attention.

6) Slow-healing cuts, sores, or frequent skin issues

When blood sugar stays high, circulation and immune function can suffer. That makes it harder for your body to heal small woundsespecially on the feet
and can increase the chance of skin infections.

Watch for: a cut that should improve in days but drags on for weeks, or sores that keep reopening.

7) More infections than usual (UTIs, yeast infections, gum issues)

Chronically high blood glucose can make infections more likely. Some common patterns include urinary tract infections, yeast infections,
and sometimes more frequent skin or oral problems.

If you notice a “repeat-customer” relationship with infections, it may be a clue that your glucose is spending too much time above target.

8) Unexpected weight loss

Unplanned weight loss can happen when your body can’t use glucose effectively and starts breaking down fat and muscle for energy.
This is more common in type 1 diabetes (and can happen quickly), but it can also occur in other situations where glucose is very high.

Red flag: weight dropping without tryingespecially with thirst, frequent urination, and fatigueshould be evaluated promptly.

9) Tingling, numbness, burning, or pain in hands/feet

Nerve irritation or damage (peripheral neuropathy) is often associated with long-term glucose problems. People describe it as tingling,
pins-and-needles, reduced sensation, or burning discomfortoften starting in the feet.

This symptom can have multiple causes, but if you have diabetes, it’s a big reason to review your blood sugar management and foot care routines.

10) Your meter/CGM keeps showing high numbers (or your A1C is trending up)

Symptoms are helpful, but the most direct “sign” is the data. If your meter or CGM frequently shows readings above your target range,
or your A1C is rising, that’s a strong signal that your current plan may need adjustment.

Consider patterns: Is it mornings? After dinner? During stress or sickness? Patterns are actionable. Random chaos is harderbut patterns give you and your care team something concrete to fix.

Red-flag symptoms that may signal a dangerous high-blood-sugar emergency

Most high blood sugar is not an immediate emergency, but certain symptoms can indicate serious conditions like
diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state (HHS).
These require urgent medical care.

Seek urgent care right away if high blood sugar comes with:

• Vomiting or inability to keep fluids down
• Deep or rapid breathing or shortness of breath
• Severe stomach pain
• Confusion, extreme drowsiness, fainting, or decreased alertness
• Fruity-smelling breath (a classic warning sign in DKA)
• Severe dehydration (very dry mouth, very dry skin, weakness)

If you’re not sure what to do, err on the side of caution and get help. These symptoms can escalate quicklyespecially in DKA.

Why these signs happen (the simple “science without the snooze” version)

When insulin isn’t available or isn’t working well, glucose stays in the bloodstream instead of fueling your cells. Your kidneys try to remove extra glucose through urine,
which increases urination and dehydration. Dehydration increases thirst and can worsen fatigue and headaches.

Meanwhile, cells that can’t access glucose signal hunger and low energy. Fluid shifts can blur vision. Over time, high blood sugar stresses blood vessels and nerves and
can contribute to complications affecting the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, and circulation.

What to do if you recognize these signs

The goal isn’t to panicit’s to get back in the driver’s seat. Here’s a safe, practical checklist:

• Check your blood sugar (and review recent trends if you use a CGM).
• Look for patterns: time of day, meals, stress, sleep, illness, changes in activity, missed doses.
• Follow your care plan (including any “sick day” guidance your clinician gave you).
• Hydrate unless a clinician has told you to restrict fluids for another condition.
• Contact your healthcare team if highs are frequent or symptoms are persistentyou may need adjustments in medication, meal plan, or timing.
• Don’t ignore red flags like vomiting, breathing changes, or confusionseek urgent help.

If you’re a teen or a parent of a teen: don’t try to “power through” symptoms to avoid being a hassle. Your body is already doing the hard work of warning you.
Listening is the responsible move.

Common myth: “If I feel fine, my diabetes must be controlled.”

Unfortunately, you can feel mostly okay while blood sugar runs highespecially if your body has gradually adapted to higher levels.
That’s why regular monitoring and check-ins matter. Think of it like driving with a slowly deflating tire: you might not notice until handling gets weird… or until it’s a much bigger problem.

Bottom line

Uncontrolled diabetes often announces itself through a cluster of everyday symptomsthirst, frequent urination, fatigue, blurry vision, slow healing, infections, and nerve sensations.
The earlier you spot the pattern, the easier it is to adjust your plan and reduce risk.

If you recognize several signs on this list, don’t self-blame. Use it as a signal to gather your data, call your healthcare team, and update the plan.
Diabetes management is not a personality testit’s a feedback loop. And feedback loops can be improved.

Experiences people commonly describe (so you feel less “Is it just me?”)

People often expect uncontrolled diabetes to feel like an emergency siren. More often, it’s a slow drip of “weird little things” that add up.
Here are common experiences many individuals report when their blood sugar has been running highshared in a way that helps you recognize patterns, not diagnose yourself.

The “Nighttime Bathroom Tour” Experience

A lot of people first notice a change at night: waking up once becomes waking up two, three, four times to pee. At first it’s easy to blame water,
caffeine, or “I’m just sleeping lightly lately.” But then you notice something else: you wake up thirsty too. Like, desert-level thirsty.
Some describe keeping a water bottle nearby and still feeling dry-mouthed. The next day, you’re tirednot because you worked out, but because you took
a midnight walking tour of your hallway.

The “I Ate… Why Am I Hungry Again?” Experience

Another common story: you eat a normal meal and your brain starts negotiating for snacks way too soon. It can feel confusing and frustrating,
especially if you’re trying hard to “eat right.” People describe it as a loop: hunger leads to snacking, snacking can raise glucose, and higher glucose can
keep you feeling off. The helpful reframe is that it’s not about willpowerit can be a signal that your body isn’t using glucose efficiently at that moment.
Tracking timing (when hunger hits, what you ate, what your glucose did) can turn the confusion into something actionable.

The “My Eyes Are Buffering” Experience

Temporary blurry vision is one of those symptoms that feels almost comedic until it’s happening to you. People describe squinting at their phone,
stepping back from the TV, or feeling like their glasses suddenly “stopped working.” The wild part is that it can come and go. That on-and-off pattern
often makes people dismiss it. But if you notice blur lining up with high readingsor happening more often than usualit’s worth flagging for your care team.

The “Why Won’t This Tiny Cut Heal?” Experience

Many people describe the annoyance of small injuries lingering: a blister that stays tender, a shaving nick that won’t close, or a scratch that keeps getting irritated.
It’s not dramatic; it’s just stubborn. Over time, that stubbornness can become a riskespecially on the feetbecause reduced sensation can make it easier to miss
injuries in the first place. A practical habit people find helpful is a quick daily foot check (especially after new shoes, sports, or long walks).
It’s a two-minute routine that can save you a lot of trouble.

The “I’m Not Lazy, I’m Just Running on Empty” Experience

High blood sugar fatigue can feel emotionally tricky. People often describe feeling sleepy, sluggish, or “not myself,” then feeling guilty about it.
But guilt doesn’t lower glucosedata and support do. A lot of individuals find relief when they connect the dots:
“Oh. This isn’t me failing. This is a signal.” When fatigue shows up alongside thirst, frequent peeing, or repeated high readings, it’s a cue to check patterns,
hydrate, and reach out for guidanceespecially if illness or stress is in the mix.

If any of these experiences sound familiar, you’re not aloneand you’re not “overreacting.” Your body gives clues. Your job is to notice them early,
and your healthcare team’s job is to help you respond with a plan that works in real life.