what happens if my blood sugar is consistently high?
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Having too much sugar in the blood for long periods of time can cause serious health problems if it's not treated. Hyperglycemia can damage the vessels that supply blood to vital organs, which can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, kidney disease, vision problems, and nerve problems.
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The excess blood sugar in diabetes can wreak havoc on blood vessels all over the body and cause complications. It can severely damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and other body parts; cause sexual problems; and double the risk of heart attack and stroke.
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Over time, high blood sugar can lead to inflammation, posing problems that range from cardiovascular disease to nerve damage, poor circulation, and various infections. (It's why eating a high-sugar diet can be dangerous — and why diabetes, a disease marked by high blood sugar levels, can be deadly when left untreated.)
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What is high blood sugar? Blood glucose is commonly considered too high if it is higher than 130 mg/dl before a meal or higher than 180 mg/dl two hours after the first bite of a meal. However, most of the signs and symptoms of high blood glucose don't appear until the blood glucose level is higher than 250 mg/dl.
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Advertisement. If you have diabetes: Your glucose levels will continue to rise after you eat because there's not enough insulin to move the glucose into your body's cells. People with type 2 diabetes don't use insulin efficiently (insulin resistance) and don't produce enough insulin (insulin deficiency).
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Hyperglycemia (pronounced: hi-per-gly-SEE-me-uh) is the medical word for high blood sugar levels. High blood sugar levels happen when the body either can't make insulin (type 1 diabetes) or can't respond to insulin properly (type 2 diabetes).
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These are called risk factors, and one of these is having diabetes. High levels of sugar in your blood can lead to something called atherosclerosis. This is when there's a build-up of fatty material inside your blood vessels, narrowing them. The narrower the blood vessels, the more the pressure builds up.
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One of the main contributors to high blood sugar is a diet too rich in carbohydrates, which once digested turn into sugar (glucose). Certain high-carb foods (for example white bread, white-flour pasta, sugary drinks, and french fries) can send your blood sugar levels soaring.
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Symptoms of a blood sugar spike include: frequent urination. fatigue. increased thirst.
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People develop hyperglycemia if their diabetes is not treated properly. Hypoglycemia sets in when blood sugar levels are too low. This is usually a side effect of treatment with blood-sugar-lowering medication. Diabetes is a metabolic disease with far-reaching health effects.
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High levels of ketones can poison the body. When levels get too high, you can develop DKA. DKA may happen to anyone with diabetes, though it is rare in people with type 2.
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The following symptoms may indicate that you have high insulin levels in your blood: Frequent and intensive hunger. Excess cravings for sugar. Weight gain, especially around the waist, forming an apple shape.
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But if you're eating way too much sugar and your body stops responding properly to insulin, your pancreas starts pumping out even more insulin. Eventually, your overworked pancreas will break down and your blood sugar levels will rise, setting you up for type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
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Diabetes is the most common cause of elevated glucose levels. Your doctor will perform a simple blood test to confirm the diagnosis. In some cases, a high amount of glucose in urine can be due to pregnancy.
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Because your sugar is likely to be higher if you are ill, also ask your healthcare provider for a “sick day plan.” Very high blood sugar above 400 mg/dL (22.2 mmol/L) can be a medical emergency. In many cases it must be treated right away with IV fluids and insulin.
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High blood sugar usually develops slowly over a period of hours, but may rise quickly if overeating simple sugars, such as dessert-type foods. Low blood sugar occurs when the sugar (glucose) level in your blood drops below what your body needs.
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Carbohydrates (carbs) are what cause blood sugar to rise. When you eat carbs, they are broken down into simple sugars. Those sugars then enter the bloodstream. As your blood sugar levels rise, your pancreas releases a hormone called insulin, which prompts your cells to absorb sugar from the blood.