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NOTE:
unless noted otherwise, all medical/health advice has been given by non-medically qualified personnel. All advice given on this site is designed to support and not replace any advice given by your personal physician. If you have questions or concerns about individual health matters or the management of your diabetes, please consult your diabetes care team.
unless noted otherwise, all medical/health advice has been given by non-medically qualified personnel. All advice given on this site is designed to support and not replace any advice given by your personal physician. If you have questions or concerns about individual health matters or the management of your diabetes, please consult your diabetes care team.
All types of diabetes are associated with high levels of glucose in the
bloodstream. The clinical term for this is hyperglycaemia.
Everyone has glucose in their blood, whether or not they have diabetes. When we eat, the digestive system breaks down the carbohydrates in food into glucose, which is then absorbed into the bloodstream from the small intestine. During periods of fasting, such as overnight, the liver releases glucose into the bloodstream to keep the body's energy supply topped up.
Glucose in the blood is taken up by the body's cells where it is then either stored or burned to produce energy. Most of the body's cells need a special substance called insulin to be present for them to be able to take glucose from the blood. Insulin acts as a key, opening the door of the cell for glucose to go in. Insulin is a hormone made in the beta cells of the pancreas, a gland that lies just behind the stomach.
Causes of high blood glucose levels
If insulin is lacking, or not working properly, then cells can't get to the glucose in the blood. The body is deprived of its main fuel source and the level of glucose in the blood starts to rise. This is what happens in diabetes.
There are a number of different reasons why insulin might not be produced or working properly to keep blood glucose levels within normal limits. These reasons help to explain the causes of the different types of diabetes and determine the treatment that will be most effective.
No insulin can be fatal
When insulin is in really short supply and cells cannot access glucose from the blood the body turns to its fat stores for an alternative source of fuel. Breakdown products of fats, known as ketones, are released into the bloodstream and start to accumulate. A build up of ketones makes the blood dangerously acidic and if the condition is not treated promptly it can result in coma and eventually death. This serious condition is called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and requires urgent hospital treatment. It usually only occurs in Type 1 diabetes, where the insulin producing cells in the pancreas have been completely destroyed.
Glucose in the urine
If the level of glucose in the blood rises above a certain limit, known as the renal threshold, it starts to 'spill over' into the urine. When this happens, the glucose tends to draw more water out of the bloodstream with it, making large volumes of urine. As a result of this, the body becomes dehydrated and the person is very thirsty. Frequent urination and excessive thirst are two of the classical symptoms of diabetes.
Consequences of high blood glucose levels in diabetes
In the short term, lack of insulin and high blood glucose levels are associated with the classical symptoms of diabetes, including the following:
In the longer term, high blood glucose levels are associated with some serious health problems, known as 'complications' of diabetes. These include:
Everyone has glucose in their blood, whether or not they have diabetes. When we eat, the digestive system breaks down the carbohydrates in food into glucose, which is then absorbed into the bloodstream from the small intestine. During periods of fasting, such as overnight, the liver releases glucose into the bloodstream to keep the body's energy supply topped up.
Glucose in the blood is taken up by the body's cells where it is then either stored or burned to produce energy. Most of the body's cells need a special substance called insulin to be present for them to be able to take glucose from the blood. Insulin acts as a key, opening the door of the cell for glucose to go in. Insulin is a hormone made in the beta cells of the pancreas, a gland that lies just behind the stomach.
Causes of high blood glucose levels
If insulin is lacking, or not working properly, then cells can't get to the glucose in the blood. The body is deprived of its main fuel source and the level of glucose in the blood starts to rise. This is what happens in diabetes.
There are a number of different reasons why insulin might not be produced or working properly to keep blood glucose levels within normal limits. These reasons help to explain the causes of the different types of diabetes and determine the treatment that will be most effective.
No insulin can be fatal
When insulin is in really short supply and cells cannot access glucose from the blood the body turns to its fat stores for an alternative source of fuel. Breakdown products of fats, known as ketones, are released into the bloodstream and start to accumulate. A build up of ketones makes the blood dangerously acidic and if the condition is not treated promptly it can result in coma and eventually death. This serious condition is called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and requires urgent hospital treatment. It usually only occurs in Type 1 diabetes, where the insulin producing cells in the pancreas have been completely destroyed.
Glucose in the urine
If the level of glucose in the blood rises above a certain limit, known as the renal threshold, it starts to 'spill over' into the urine. When this happens, the glucose tends to draw more water out of the bloodstream with it, making large volumes of urine. As a result of this, the body becomes dehydrated and the person is very thirsty. Frequent urination and excessive thirst are two of the classical symptoms of diabetes.
Consequences of high blood glucose levels in diabetes
In the short term, lack of insulin and high blood glucose levels are associated with the classical symptoms of diabetes, including the following:
- Weight loss
- Tiredness or fatigue
- Frequent urination
- Excessive thirst
- Blurred eyesight
In the longer term, high blood glucose levels are associated with some serious health problems, known as 'complications' of diabetes. These include:
- Eye disease
- Kidney disease
- Nerve damage
- Heart disease
- Large blood vessel disease
