What are the signs of a hyperglycemic crisis?

In a hyperglycemic crisis, symptoms arise primarily due to elevated blood glucose levels. The signs commonly associated with this condition include increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, and blurred vision.

Increased thirst occurs as the body attempts to compensate for fluid loss caused by osmotic diuresis, where high levels of sugar in the blood draw water out of cells and into the urine. This fluid loss can lead to dehydration, reinforcing the feeling of thirst. Frequent urination results from the kidneys filtering excess glucose from the blood to be excreted, which also contributes to further dehydration.

Fatigue is often experienced because the body cannot effectively utilize glucose for energy due to insufficient insulin or insulin resistance. Lastly, blurred vision can be a result of fluid imbalance affecting the lenses of the eyes, leading to temporary changes in vision.

These symptoms are characteristic of hyperglycemia and its acute effects on the body’s physiology, making this the correct choice for identifying signs of a hyperglycemic crisis.