Intense thirst, weight loss, fatigue… The symptoms of diabetes are increasingly known to the general public. But not all. Here is one that, according to Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency physician and medical director of True Medicalshould encourage you to consult.
What happens to your body when sugar is in excess
It all starts in the kidneys. When the blood glucose level becomes too high – hyperglycemia – the kidneys filter this excess sugar, but they cannot reabsorb it all.
“The glucose that remains in the tubule then attracts water with it by osmosis: this is called osmotic diuresis.
explains Dr. Kierzek.
Direct consequence: the volume of urine increases, sometimes noticeably, without you having drunk more than usual. This phenomenon has a precise medical name, polyuria, defined by a production of more than two or three liters of urine per day.
It is often accompanied by intense thirst – polydipsia – together forming what doctors call polyuro-polydipsic syndrome.
Is everyone affected in the same way?
In a non-diabetic person, a very sugary diet can occasionally cause blood sugar levels to rise. However, the body generally regulates without difficulty.
“Marked polyuria is not necessarily linked to a simple excess of sugar at the end of a meal” nuance Dr Kierzek. So drinking a lot, urinating a lot and eating a lot of sweets without losing weight does not automatically sign progressive diabetes.
On the other hand, certain associations of symptoms deserve attention.
“If polyuria is frequent, recent, and is accompanied by thirst, fatigue, weight loss, blurred vision or repeated urinary infections, the hypothesis of incipient or poorly controlled diabetes must be taken seriously. insists the emergency doctor.
In this case, a blood sugar test must be carried out without delay.
When should you consult a doctor?
The rule is simple: as soon as symptoms set in or accumulate, you must consult. Dr. Kierzek points out that a family history of diabetes alone is reason enough to have your blood sugar levels checked.
“The medical assessment will include a measurement of blood sugar – capillary initially, then fasting and by measuring HbA1c if necessary” he adds.
The doctor will also seek to rule out other possible causes of polyuria: diabetes insipidus, renal failure, taking diuretics, or even hypercalcemia.
How can we prevent these disruptions in the long term?
Prevention is based on actions accessible to all.
When it comes to diet, Dr. Kierzek recommends “limit added sugar in accordance with official recommendations, i.e. less than twenty-five to fifty grams per day, which corresponds to six to twelve cubes of sugar“.
A limit that many French people exceed without knowing it, particularly through sugary drinks and ultra-processed products.
Regular physical activity also plays a key role: it improves insulin sensitivity and helps the body better regulate its blood sugar levels.
“If diabetes is confirmed, the treatment becomes more structured: therapeutic education, personalized dietary adjustment, and depending on the case, prescription of oral antidiabetics or insulin, with regular monitoring of blood sugar levels, HbA1c and possible remote complications.” lists the doctor.
In conclusion, urinating frequently after a sugary meal is not trivial. If this symptom is isolated and temporary, it does not necessarily justify a consultation. “But when it persists over time and is accompanied by other signals – thirst, fatigue, weight loss, blurred vision – it can be the first visible sign of diabetes taking hold.” concludes Dr. Kierzek. It is therefore better not to wait: a simple blood sugar measurement is often enough to clarify the situation.