The Effect of Glucose on the Blood

The effects of glucose (blood sugar) on your blood can cause energy problems or damage to your body. You can have elevated glucose levels or low glucose levels in your blood stream.

Hyperglycemia-High Sugar

• Hyperglycemia is elevated sugar in the blood either first thing in the morning before eating or two hours after eating. This is what occurs when a person has diabetes that is not under control.

Hypoglycemia-Low Sugar

• Hypoglycemia is low sugar in the blood. This can be caused by diabetes, medications, fever and can indicate other health problems.

Symptoms

• If the glucose level is low, a person may experience confusion, vision problems, shakiness, sweating and hunger. If the glucose level is high, the person may experience increase thirst, blurred vision, tiredness and weight loss.

Long-term Effects

• Long-term effects of high glucose levels are eye, nerve and kidney damage as well as coma and death. Low blood glucose levels can lead to loss of consciousness, seizures and death.

Prevention/Solution

• To prevent high glucose levels, make sure you are eating the correct foods and testing your levels on a daily basis. To prevent low glucose levels, eat small meals throughout the day and keep candy on hand.