There are a number of things that ‘dangerous diabetes levels’ could be referring to. Diabetes is a disease which can affect any part of the body, mostly due to dangerous diabetes levels of high blood sugar. In addition, the fact that most diabetics are obese or overweight contributes even more to dangerous diabetes levels such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and dangerous hospital bill levels.
Diabetes and Dangerous Blood Sugar Levels
What makes diabetes sugar levels dangerous? Of all the dangers diabetes levels to be concerned of, high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) are the most important. According to ABCnews.go.com, the effects of high blood sugar levels can be both short and long-termed. In the short-term, high blood sugar levels make you feel tired and weak, become dehydrated, lose electrolytes, and have blurred vision. It can also cause you to have frequent infections which can lead to long-term complications. Other long term complications caused by diabetes and dangerous blood sugar levels include eye disease, blindness, kidney disease or kidney failure, heart disease, and nerve disease which may lead to amputation.
Low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia) are very dangerous too. Low blood sugar often calls for immediate action. Hypoglycemia is normally caused by high levels of insulin in the bloodstream, too much exercising, drinking alcohol, or skipping meals. Normally, if recognized, low blood sugar levels can be fixed with a sweet snack, a glass of juice, a soda, or a sugar pill. However, sometimes this is not so easily fixed. A person with low blood sugar levels may end up passing out or becoming unconscious, and sometimes this could lead to a serious accident, such as a serious fall. They could also have seizures or lapse into a diabetic coma.
Other Types of Dangerous Diabetes Levels
Aside from dangerous blood sugar levels, diabetes patients have to worry about a number of different dangerous diabetes levels. These include:
High cholesterol levels – Many people with type 2 diabetes have high cholesterol levels. There are good (HDL) cholesterol levels and bad (LDL) cholesterol levels. High blood sugar contributes to LDL cholesterol because blood sugar coats the receptors for LDL cholesterol and impairs the livers ability to remove cholesterol from the bloodstream.
High triglyceride levels – Triglycerides are fat-like substances which can be found in the bloodstream. High triglyceride levels raise a person’s risk of heart attack or stroke.
High blood pressure levels – In diabetes, high blood pressure levels (hypertension) raises your risk for heart attack, stroke, eye problems and kidney disease. As many as 2 out of 3 adults with diabetes have high blood pressure, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
High ketone levels – Ketones are produced when the body begins burning fat for energy because it cannot use glucose. Ketone levels are one of the most immediate and dangerous diabetes levels to watch out for. This can lead to a serious condition called ketoacidosis which can lead to coma or even death. If you notice any signs of ketoacidosis such as thirst and very dry mouth, dry or flushed skin, a fruity odor to breathe, a hard time breathing, or a hard time paying attention, immediate medical care is needed.
