What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a group of diseases characterized by high blood glucose levels that result from defects in the body's ability to produce and/or use insulin.

Most of the food you eat is turned into glucose(sugar) that circulates in bloodstream for our bodies to use for energy. Beta cells in the pancreas produces a hormone called insulin to help glucose get into the cells of our bodies. When you have diabetes, your body either doesn't produce enough insulin or can't use its own insulin as well as it should. This causes sugars to build up in your blood

Why high blood sugar is bad?

When your blood sugar is high, some of the sugar "overflows" through your kidneys into your urine. Fluid goes with it. This means you make more urine than normal. For this reason, high blood sugar leads to dehydration. Sometimes dehydration from high blood sugar is severe. It can require a hospital stay. You may need to get fluids through a vein (intravenous). Symptoms of too much urine production due to a high blood sugar are frequent urination and thirst.

When sugar flows out in urine, your body loses an important fuel. This loss of sugar (and the calories it contains) can cause an unusually strong appetite and weight loss even though you may eat a lot.

When your blood sugar is high, it is usually a sign that your tissues can't easily pull sugar out of your bloodstream to use for energy. This "sugar-hunger" in your body tissues can cause weakness and fatigue

Blood sugar actually coats red blood cells (hemoglobin), causing them to become stiff. These "sticky cells" interfere with blood circulation, causing cholesterol to build up on the inside of your blood vessels. It can take months to years for the damage to your body to appear. The fragile blood vessels in your eyes, kidneys and feet are most susceptible, so problems are usually noticed first in those areas.

High blood sugar can put you at risk for a host of complications that can affect nearly every organ in the body. They include:
  • The heart and blood vessels 
  • The eyes 
  • The kidneys 
  • The nerves 
  • The gums and teeth 
Ultimately, diabetes is a chronic health condition that can affect many aspects of your health. It's important that you take high blood sugar seriously. Regular follow-up care may help you better manage the disease and live an active, healthy life.