by Mary
(Ottawa, ON, Canada)
Question from Mary:
I have type 2 diabetes and I do not take medication for it at this point. Initially, I was fine monitoring my sugar levels.
Now my sugar level in the morning is too high. I feel crummy, have blurry vision, and do not feel like eating.
What is happening?
Blurry vision, feeling unwell, and loss of appetite in someone with type 2 diabetes may be signs that blood sugar is running too high.
High blood sugar can temporarily blur vision by changing fluid balance in the eye. But blurry vision can also be a sign of diabetic eye problems, so it should not be ignored.
If your morning blood sugar is repeatedly high, monitoring alone may no longer be enough. Please contact your doctor soon for a diabetes review, blood tests, and treatment advice.
Answer by Dr. Albana Greca, MD, MMedSc
Hi Mary,
I read your message carefully. Blurry vision, feeling crummy, and not wanting to eat can happen when blood sugar is high, especially if the high readings are happening repeatedly in the morning.
When blood sugar rises, the fluid balance inside the eye can change. This may make vision blurry for a short time. If glucose remains high for a long time, diabetes can also damage the small blood vessels in the retina, leading to diabetic retinopathy or other eye problems.
This is why new or worsening blurry vision should be checked by an eye doctor, especially if you have diabetes. You can read more here: diabetic eye problems.
Morning high blood sugar can happen for several reasons, including:
You may find this helpful: why blood sugar is high in the morning.
When blood sugar is high, the body may become dehydrated and tired. Some people feel weak, nauseated, thirsty, sleepy, or generally unwell.
Loss of appetite can also happen with illness, infection, stomach problems, medication effects, or very high blood sugar. If you are not eating well and your glucose is high, it is important to speak with your doctor.
Possibly. Many people with type 2 diabetes can manage for some time with food changes, exercise, weight management, and monitoring. But type 2 diabetes can change over time. The pancreas may not produce enough insulin, and insulin resistance may increase.
If your morning blood sugar is now repeatedly high and you feel unwell, your doctor may need to check your HbA1c, fasting glucose, kidney function, possible infection, and overall treatment plan.
You can compare your numbers here: blood sugar levels by time of day.
Do not rely on herbs or supplements to treat high blood sugar or blurry vision. If your glucose is high, you need proper medical assessment and a safe treatment plan.
Seek urgent medical help if you have sudden vision loss, severe eye pain, confusion, vomiting, dehydration, chest pain, breathing difficulty, one-sided weakness, or blood sugar that is very high and not coming down.
If your blood sugar is around 250 mg/dL or higher, especially if you feel sick, ask your doctor whether you should check ketones. Moderate or large ketones need urgent medical attention.
Mary, your symptoms suggest that your diabetes needs review now. Blurry vision may improve when blood sugar improves, but it can also signal eye disease. Please arrange both a diabetes check-up and an eye examination. Monitoring alone may no longer be enough if your morning readings are repeatedly high.
Educational safety note: This answer is for general diabetes education only. It does not replace personal medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Do not start, stop, or change diabetes medication without speaking with your healthcare provider.
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