If high blood sugar is not treated, it can lead to many health problems. It can cause type 2 diabetes, which increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, dementia, vision problems and many other health problems.
Glucose is a simple sugar. Glucose, which acts as the main source of power in the cell and is the locomotive of all activities in the body, must be present in the body in sufficient quantity.
Glucose is essential for all processes in the body, including muscle work and brain functioning. About two-thirds of the total glucose is used for body activities, the rest is stored as a power reserve in the form of glycogen in other tissues of the body.
If the beta cells of the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin, glucose cannot enter the cells, remains unused and accumulates in the blood. High blood sugar, also known as hyperglycemia, is not painful, often without symptoms, but is very dangerous, especially in the long run.
What is diabetes?
Insulin is a hormone produced by the beta cells of the pancreas that “unlocks” the cells to allow glucose to pass through and generate power.
Diabetes is a chronic, metabolic disease that occurs when the pancreas can no longer produce insulin or when the body can no longer use the insulin it produces. The body takes glucose from the food (carbohydrates) that are broken down in the digestive system. The glucose obtained in this form enters the blood circulation and reaches the cells. Without insulin, glucose cannot enter the cells, so they starve. The inability to produce or use insulin effectively leads to high blood sugar levels, namely hyperglycemia.
There are three main types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, but is most common in children and adolescents. In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce or produces very little insulin. Therefore, individuals with this type of diabetes need daily insulin injections from the beginning of the treatment in order to keep their diabetes under control.
Type 2 diabetes is more common in adulthood and accounts for almost 90 percent of all diabetes events. In type 2 diabetes, the body produces insulin, but it is insufficient. Even if enough insulin is produced, it cannot be used adequately. The basis of type 2 diabetes treatment is a healthy lifestyle that includes a healthy diet and regular physical activity, as well as maintaining normal body weight. Type 2 diabetes is also treated with hypoglycemic drugs and insulin preparations in long-term disease.
Gestational diabetes occurs only during pregnancy and disappears after delivery. Women who have gestational diabetes during pregnancy and their children are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
The first signs of high blood sugar
To keep sugar under control, it is necessary to lead a healthy life style, exercise and eat appropriately. Despite all this, if you suspect high blood sugar, you should pay attention to the first symptoms and take action for treatment as soon as possible.
Here are the first warning signs the body shows in case of high blood sugar.
frequent urination
If you notice that you are urinating more often even though you drink fluids as usual, check your sugar. When sugar levels rise, the body tries to excrete it through the urine, so the need to go to the bathroom frequently arises.
burnout
Blood sugar rises because the body becomes immune to inulin, a hormone that aids in its absorption, so cells can use it as a powerhouse. The lack of strength in the cells leads to fatigue in the body.
blurred vision
High sugar can damage the eyes, causing blurred vision, spots and lines in the field of view. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the main causes of blindness in adults and is a health nuisance caused by high blood sugar.
Thirst
Frequent urination causes thirst. If you can’t quench your thirst even though you drink more water, it is sufficient to control your blood sugar level.
constant hunger
Individuals with high sugar always feel hungry and always have the urge to snack. This is because cells are deprived of glucose and look for more food to obtain it from other sources and power from fat stores.
tingling and swelling
Excessively high blood sugar damages the body and causes diabetic neuropathy, the most common health problem caused by diabetes. Peripheral neuropathy is the most common form of diabetic neuropathy and presents as tingling, burning, spasm, swelling, or tickling in the legs, arms, feet, palms, and shoulders. All of this can get messy at night.