What Are the Consequences If You Are a Diabetic & Your Blood Sugar Gets Too High?

All individuals can suffer from occasional high blood sugar, but it is a serious problem in diabetics. For those with diabetes, high blood sugar can lead to severe health conditions.

Hyperglycemia

• High blood sugar is known as hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia can occur in both healthy people and those with diabetes. It comes after an individual eats food with high sugar content, before the body can process all the sugar and return blood sugar levels back to normal.

Cause of Hyperglycemia in Diabetics

• In type 1 diabetes, hyperglycemia is a result of not having enough insulin to remove the sugar from the blood and into the body's cells. In type 2, hyperglycemia occurs when the cells are unable to use insulin.

Symptoms

• Common symptoms of hyperglycemia may include blurry vision, dry mouth, excessive thirst, increased urination and tiredness. Although unusual, severe hyperglycemia can cause coma and even death.

Lasting Effects

• For a diabetic, hyperglycemia may lead to a more serious condition known as ketoacidosis. Cells break down fat for energy, leaving a byproduct of ketones. High blood sugar can prevent the elimination of ketones from the body, causing ketoacidosis, a life threatening chemical imbalance.

Treatment

• Treatment depends mostly on whether you have diabetes 1 or 2. It usually consists of exercise, diet and medication.