Diabetes leads to a continual imbalance in your blood sugar.
When there is too much sugar in the body hyperglycemia occurs. Defined by the WHO (World Health Organization), you are in the red zone if:
- Blood glucose levels > 11.0 mmol/L
(200 mg/dl) about 2 hours after a meal. - Blood glucose levels > 7.0 mmol/L
(126 mg/dl) when you haven’t eaten (fasting)
But the question on our minds is: why is high blood sugars so bad for you and what are good sugar levels?
If you have > 7.0 mmol/L blood sugar for an extended period of time, you risk damaging internal organs. When they are greater than 11, serious damage can occur.
If Hyperglycemia goes untreated for a long period of time, diabetic coma (ketoacidosis) may occur. This happens when your body doesn’t have enough insulin. In order for glucose to be used (and fuel your body), you need insulin. The body is then forces to use fats that are broken down for energy. When fats are broken down, ketones are produced in the body, but too many ketones is a bad thing. When your body has too much in the blood, diabetic coma occurs.
Hypoglycemia occurs when blood sugar is too low (usually less than 70mg/dL. People sometimes interchange the term hypglycemia with insulin reaction or insulin shock. If low blood sugar continues for a period of time, it could lead to a seizure or unconsciousness. Many have blood glucose readings below 70mg and feel absolutely no symptoms, this is referred to as hypoglycemia unawareness. When this occurs, we’re less likely to be awakened from sleep.
