When is high blood sugar dangerous?

If your blood sugar level is very high for a long time, it may cause serious health problems. Whether you have diabetes or not, it’s something to be cautious about—so when is high blood sugar dangerous?

The problems that high blood sugar can cause develop over time. Your doctor will tell you what your normal blood sugar level should be and what to do if your levels are not within that range—but when is high blood sugar dangerous?

When is high blood sugar dangerous?
Below, we explain the answer:

If blood sugar rises significantly, it may lead to two serious conditions, as follows:

1. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
Diabetic ketoacidosis occurs when there isn’t enough insulin in the body. When this happens, glucose can’t enter the cells to be used for energy, and blood sugar levels rise, which leads the body to start breaking down fat and protein for energy.

This process produces acids known as ketones. Excess ketones build up in the blood and eventually spill into the urine. If left untreated, diabetic ketoacidosis can lead to a life-threatening diabetic coma.

This is one of the situations in which the answer to “When is high blood sugar dangerous?” applies.

2. Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS)
Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state occurs when blood glucose levels become extremely high—more than 600 milligrams/deciliter—without the presence of ketones. It is a complication of type 2 diabetes.

In this case, the body can’t use glucose or fat for energy. Glucose then leaks into the urine, leading to increased urination. If left untreated, it may cause severe dehydration and coma, which can be life-threatening.

Complications of high blood sugar
After learning the answer to the question “When is high blood sugar dangerous?”, it’s important to know that high glucose levels can affect you from head to toe if they remain out of control for a long time. You may have some or all of the following:

Heart disease or heart attacks.
Stroke.
Kidney damage or kidney failure.
Bone and joint problems.
Blurred vision.
Skin problems.
Foot problems caused by nerve damage or poor blood flow, which can lead to skin infections.
Damage to blood vessels in the retina, leading to blindness.
Gum and tooth infections.
What does high blood sugar look like?

You should know the symptoms of high blood sugar, which may include the following:

Feeling thirstier than usual.
Blurred vision.
Needing to urinate often.
Feeling hungrier than usual.
Numbness or tingling in the legs.
Irritability.
Frequent infections in the gums, skin, or vagina.
Ketones in the urine, which are byproducts of fat or muscle that appear when insulin is insufficient.
Frequent headaches.
Noticing that cuts and sores take a long time to heal.
Feeling more tired than usual.
Skin inflammation.
It’s also important to tell your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.

Causes of high blood sugar
After learning the answer to the question “When is high blood sugar dangerous?”, it’s important to know that there are many causes of high blood sugar, including:

Eating too many carbohydrates.
Having an infection.
Not being able to do activities as usual.
Psychological stress or tension.
Forgetting to take insulin or glucose-lowering medications, or skipping the appropriate dose.
Strenuous physical activity, especially when blood sugar levels are rising and insulin levels are low.

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