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The Effects of Low Blood Sugar vs. High Blood Sugar

In the year 2007, according to the American Diabetes Association, 23.6 million men women and children in the United States suffered from diabetes. Every person with diabetes will, at times, experience both low and high blood sugars, known as hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia respectively. In the short term, symptoms need to be quickly recognized and dealt with, and in the long term, diabetes sufferers need to be cognizant of what the effects low and high blood sugars can ultimately have on their lives.

  1. Immediate Symptoms of Low Blood Sugar

    • The immediate symptoms of low blood sugar are shakiness, dizziness, hunger, sweating, headache, pale skin, sudden moodiness, crying for no reason, confusion, seizure, clumsy movements and a tingling sensation around the mouth. Most likely, these symptoms will not all be apparent at the same time. Again, the first thing to do if you experience any of these symptoms is to check your glucose level. If for some reason you do not have access to your glucometer, treat yourself as if you have low blood sugar by giving yourself some form of sugar, preferably juice or fruit.

    Immediate Symptoms of High Blood Sugar

    • If you have high blood sugar, you will notice immediate symptoms that include increased thirst, frequent urination, high blood glucose levels and high levels of sugar in your urine. If you think your sugar may be high, you should check it immediately. If it is high, the best course of action is immediate exercise, such as a brisk walk, which will help to bring down the blood sugar levels. During exercise, your muscles use sugar to function, which then lowers the blood sugar and leaves the levels more manageable, according to the Mayo Clinic.

    Long-term Effects of Low Blood Sugar

    • The long-term effects of low blood sugar are extremely serious. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, long-term, untreated low blood sugar leads to coma, brain damage or death.

    Long-term Effects of High Blood Sugar

    • According to the American Diabetes Association, high blood sugar is the cause of many major complications from diabetes. Eye complications include glaucoma, retinopathy and cataracts. Many people with diabetes develop neuropathy, which is a form of nerve damage, calluses and foot ulcers, and often leads to foot amputations. Diabetics with high blood sugar are also more prone to developing skin infections, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, kidney disease and ketoacidosis. They also may suffer from depression, often times because they are in denial about their condition.

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