High Blood Sugar And Organ Damage

High blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, is normally associated with diabetes. It is a condition where the pancreas produces too little of a hormone called insulin. Or the insulin produced is adequate but the body is unable to recognize it or utilize it properly. In both cases, the result is the same: the level of sugar in the blood rises to above an acceptable limit, and the cells are starved of energy in the form of glucose.

Diabetes is a life-long disease with no known cure. About 20 million Americans suffer from diabetes and about 54 million from pre-diabetes. The American Diabetes Association recommends a screening for diabetes, by all adults over the age of 45, at least once every three years.

Cells of certain organs such as those in the brain, nervous system, blood vessels, kidneys and heart absorb glucose directly from the blood without the necessity of insulin. These cells, except those of the brain, are more susceptible to damage from high blood sugars when they are exposed to high levels of glucose.

Damage tends to occur first in these areas and in others with small blood vessels like the eyes since these organs are always ready to absorb glucose. When the blood sugar level goes unacceptably high the cells too have a high inside level of glucose. This make it impossible for the cells or organs to function as expected. They are unable to produce key enzymes, cannot repair themselves, and are not able to transport nutrients to the cells.

An individual suffering from this condition has to resort to medication along with a modified diet and exercise.

More Articles :

High Blood Sugar And Organ Damage

Diabetes :

High Blood Sugar And Tiredness

The fundamental defect in all patients with high blood sugar or diabetes is the diminished ability of insulin to encourage cells of the body to absorb glucose (sugar) molecules from the blood. Whether this reduced insulin activity is due to an insufficient amount of insulin produced, as in Type 1 diabetes, or from the inability of cells to react to the normal amount of insulin, the outcome is the same. It results in blood glucose levels that are too high. High glucose in the blood is medically known as hyperglycemia. More..