Understanding the Dangers of High and Low Blood Sugar Levels

Understanding Blood Sugar Levels

For people with diabetes, keeping blood sugar levels within a healthy range is extremely important. Fluctuating blood sugars can lead to symptoms of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) or hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) which can impact health both in the short and long-term.

What is Hyperglycemia?

Hyperglycemia refers to abnormally high levels of sugar (glucose) in the bloodstream. For people without diabetes, normal blood glucose ranges between 70-130 mg/dL when fasting. In people with diabetes, blood sugar level 287 mg/dL or higher after a meal is considered hyperglycemia.

Causes of Hyperglycemia

There are a few key reasons that can cause hyperglycemia in diabetic patients:

• Missing a dose of insulin or diabetes medication
• Eating more carbohydrates than the medication or insulin can manage
• Being physically inactive
• Having an illness or infection
• Experiencing significant stress
• Taking other medications that impact blood sugar levels

Signs and Symptoms

Some common signs and symptoms that your blood sugar is too high (hyperglycemia) include:

• Blurry vision
• Extreme thirst and dry mouth
• Frequent urination
• Headaches
• Tiredness and weakness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal pain

Dangers of Prolonged Hyperglycemia

While symptoms may seem minor at first, prolonged hyperglycemia that is left untreated can lead to some severe and dangerous health complications. Some doctors refer to extremely elevated blood sugar as hyperglycemic crisis.

Nerve Damage (Neuropathy)

Nerve fibers are very sensitive to shifts in blood sugar balance. Years of uncontrolled high blood sugar levels can cause the nerves to become permanently damaged and dysfunctional, a complication called diabetic neuropathy.

Some signs of diabetic nerve damage include pain, numbing, burning, and loss of feeling in the extremities as well as issues with digestion, urinary function, and heart rate.

Kidney Disease (Nephropathy)

The kidneys normally function to filter waste from the body. But high blood sugar causes damage to the blood vessels in the kidneys leading them to be unable to properly filter waste. This allows waste and toxins to accumulate and poison the body.

Heart Disease

Long-term elevated blood sugar causes inflammation in blood vessel walls which leads to hardening and narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis). This increases the risk for heart attack, coronary artery disease, and stroke.

Vision Loss

Another worrisome complication from ongoing hyperglycemia is developing diabetic retinopathy which damages the blood vessels in the retina at the back of the eye. This can severely degrade vision and lead to blindness.

Treatment to Lower High Blood Sugar

If blood sugar stays above 180 mg/dL two times in a row, treatment should be taken to lower it before complications set in.

Take Insulin or Other Diabetes Medications

If prescribed diabetes medication, take exactly as instructed to help stabilize blood sugar.

Stay Hydrated

Drink extra fluids like water and herbal tea to prevent dehydration from increased urination.

Exercise Lightly

Going for a walk, doing yoga, or other light activities can help lower blood sugar by making cells more sensitive to insulin.

Eat Less Carbs and Sugar

Choosing lower glycemic foods with fiber and protein instead of high carb and sugary foods reduces additional blood sugar spikes.

What is Hypoglycemia?

On the other end of the spectrum from hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia refers to abnormally low blood sugar. For people without diabetes this means 70 mg/dL or less when fasting. For diabetics, low blood sugar is defined as less than 70 mg/dL at any time, with or without fasting.

Causes of Hypoglycemia

Reasons that can trigger low blood sugar episodes include:

• Missing a meal or going long periods without eating
• Taking too much insulin or diabetes medications
• Drinking alcohol, especially on an empty stomach
• Getting unusually intense exercise

Signs and Symptoms

Signals from your body signaling that blood sugar has dropped too low may include:

• Shakiness
• Sweating
• Racing heart
• Hunger
• Headache
• Pale skin
• Mood changes like nervousness, anxiety or irritability
• Fatigue
• Tingling sensation around mouth
• Blurred vision
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Confusion

Dangers of Prolonged Hypoglycemia

If left untreated, severely low blood sugar can lead to dangerous and life-threatening complications:

Fainting

Extreme hypoglycemia causes the brain to be deprived of necessary glucose to fuel its function. This leads you to suddenly lose consciousness and collapse.

Seizures

The shift in nutrients and electrical activity caused by plummeting blood sugar can trigger seizures, convulsions, and involuntary muscle contractions and jerking.

Coma

In severe cases, prolonged extremely low blood sugar leads to diabetic coma where one becomes unconscious for a length period due to the brain and body shutting down from lack of glucose.

Treatment for Low Blood Sugar

It's vital to treat hypoglycemic episodes immediately before one passes out or a medical crisis develops. Recommended treatment steps include:

Consume Fast-Acting Carbs

Eat or drink 15 grams of fast-absorbing carbohydrates such as:

• 12 cup juice or regular soda
• 1 cup of skim milk
• 4 teaspoons of sugar dissolved in water
• Glucose tablets if available

Re-check Blood Sugar Level

Fifteen minutes after consuming the fast-acting carbs, check blood sugar levels again using your glucose meter. If still below 70 mg/dL, consume another serving of 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates.

Follow-up with Protein and Complex Carbs

Once blood sugar stabilizes, follow up with a combination of protein and complex carbohydrates to stabilize it for the longer term such as:

• Greek yogurt
• Peanut butter toast
• Cheese and whole grain crackers

Left untreated, blood sugar fluctuations can have very dangerous short and long-term health impacts. Carefully monitoring levels and responding appropriately is essential management for living well with diabetes.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.