Which symptom is a sign of hyperglycemia?

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Multiple Choice

Which symptom is a sign of hyperglycemia?

Explanation:
High blood glucose causes osmotic diuresis, which leads to dehydration. As the body loses fluids, the thirst drive increases, so polydipsia is a classic sign of hyperglycemia. Bradycardia isn’t typical in hyperglycemia; dehydration from high glucose more commonly causes a faster heart rate. Hypoglycemia is the opposite condition—low blood sugar—so its symptoms reflect low glucose, not high. Hypoventilation isn’t a characteristic sign of hyperglycemia either; in diabetic ketoacidosis, the body tends to hyperventilate (rapid, deep breathing) to blow off CO2. So the symptom that best indicates hyperglycemia is increased thirst.

High blood glucose causes osmotic diuresis, which leads to dehydration. As the body loses fluids, the thirst drive increases, so polydipsia is a classic sign of hyperglycemia.

Bradycardia isn’t typical in hyperglycemia; dehydration from high glucose more commonly causes a faster heart rate. Hypoglycemia is the opposite condition—low blood sugar—so its symptoms reflect low glucose, not high. Hypoventilation isn’t a characteristic sign of hyperglycemia either; in diabetic ketoacidosis, the body tends to hyperventilate (rapid, deep breathing) to blow off CO2.

So the symptom that best indicates hyperglycemia is increased thirst.

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