What can happen to your body if you blood sugar stays over 200 for days?
Hyperglycemia: Blood sugar levels that consistently remain above 200 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) for days can lead to a severe and potentially life-threatening condition called hyperglycemia. Here's what can happen to your body if your blood sugar stays elevated over 200 for extended periods:
1. Dehydration: High blood sugar levels cause excessive urination as the kidneys try to eliminate excess glucose from the body. This can lead to dehydration, causing symptoms like thirst, dry mouth, and decreased urine output.
2. Electrolyte Imbalances: Persistent hyperglycemia can disrupt the balance of electrolytes, including sodium, potassium, and magnesium, which play crucial roles in bodily functions. Electrolyte imbalances can lead to various health problems, including muscle weakness, irregular heartbeat, and seizures.
3. Ketoacidosis: In people with type 1 diabetes or advanced type 2 diabetes, severely elevated blood sugar can result in ketoacidosis. This is a dangerous condition in which the body breaks down fat for energy, producing acidic chemicals called ketones. Ketoacidosis can cause rapid breathing, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and altered mental status.
4. Diabetic Coma: Extremely high blood sugar levels, typically above 600 mg/dL, can lead to diabetic coma, a life-threatening state of unconsciousness. Diabetic coma is characterized by severe dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and the accumulation of ketones in the blood.
5. Damage to Blood Vessels: Chronic hyperglycemia can damage small blood vessels, a condition known as microvascular complications. This can affect various organs, including the eyes (retinopathy), kidneys (nephropathy), and nerves (neuropathy). Microvascular complications are a significant cause of blindness, kidney failure, and amputations in people with diabetes.
6. Cardiovascular Complications: High blood sugar over time can increase the risk of cardiovascular problems such as heart attacks and strokes. Diabetes damages blood vessels and promotes the buildup of plaque, leading to atherosclerosis.
7. Infections and Impaired Wound Healing: Elevated blood sugar levels weaken the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to infections. Wounds and skin injuries also tend to heal more slowly in people with chronic high blood sugar.
8. Diabetic Foot Problems: Diabetics with persistent hyperglycemia are at higher risk of foot complications, including nerve damage, poor circulation, and infections. These can lead to diabetic foot ulcers and, in severe cases, amputation.
9. Vision Problems: Blurred vision or other eye problems can occur due to damage to the small blood vessels in the retina, called diabetic retinopathy. Prolonged hyperglycemia can also contribute to the progression of cataracts and glaucoma.
10. Nerve Damage: Nerve damage (diabetic neuropathy) is a common consequence of chronic high blood sugar. Symptoms can include tingling, numbness, pain, and muscle weakness in the extremities, as well as autonomic neuropathy affecting heart, digestion, and sexual functions.
It's crucial for individuals with diabetes or at risk of high blood sugar to monitor their blood glucose levels regularly, follow their treatment plans, and make necessary lifestyle changes to manage their blood sugar within the recommended range. Consistent hyperglycemia over days can have severe consequences and requires prompt medical attention.