Untreated High Blood Sugar Can Be Deadly

High blood sugar, which is also known hyperglycemia, occurs when your blood contains a high level of sugar glucose. Although high blood sugar is found in many conditions, it is most notably present in diabetes.

High blood sugar is known to impair the flow of blood to the heart of people with type 1 diabetes For people that have type 1 diabetes, which is approximately 90% of all people affected with diabetes, the effect of high sugar levels causes the blood vessels to open poorly. This poor vasodilation is not improved when insulin is administered. Type 1 diabetes is a disease that affects children and occurs because the body does not produce enough insulin.

For people that have type 2 diabetes, which is generally an adult onset disease that can develop over many years, high sugar levels can lead to many dangerous and life threatening health problems. High blood sugar left untreated can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, blindness, heart disease, damage to the blood vessels and nerves, and kidney disease. It also can cause erectile dysfunction and complications during pregnancy.

Elevated blood sugar can be deadly if left untreated and type 2 diabetes develops, weakening the heart, and narrowing the blood vessels. Heart attacks and strokes are the cause of death for two out of three people that have diabetes. If a person ha suffered a heart attack or stroke, it is imperative that their blood sugar be closely monitored while they are hospitalized in the ICU. During this time there is a greater risk of death of those patients that have high blood sugar.

If a diabetics blood sugar levels remain elevated and are left untreated, diabetic ketoacidosis can develop. When this condition is present, it means that the cells of the body are not able to get any glucose in order to produce energy. The body is in a state of complete insulin deficiency. Because the body cells are not able to use the glucose, it begins to break down fat to get energy and avoid starvation. This produces a severe chemical imbalance in the body.

Kidney failure can also result from high blood sugar levels that cause diabetes mellitus. Over time the tiny blood vessels in the kidneys become so damaged that they are not able to filter the body fluids to remove the waste. Of the people that have diabetes, twenty to thirty percent will develop some degree of kidney disease.

Untreated high blood sugar which results in type 2 diabetes is also the leading cause of vision loss and blindness. According to the National Eye Institute, diabetic retinopathy causes approximately 25,000 people to completely  loss their sight each year. Diabetic eye disease also includes glaucoma and cataracts.

If you have high blood sugar, it is very important that you take the necessary measures needed  to lower your blood sugar levels. A healthy diet, weight loss, and  exercise are all important aspects of overall lifestyle changes that will help you  to lower your blood sugar levels.