Poor glucose control leads to major problems

BLOOD sugar monitoring and control are critical in diabetes management. Poor control will result in complications that may even be life-threatening.

The short-term effects of uncontrolled blood glucose levels include:

● Low blood glucose – also called hypoglycaemia, defined as blood glucose level of below 4.0 mmol/l. Symptoms may include nervousness, heavy sweating, weakness, tremors, confusion, seizures and even coma.

● High blood glucose – also called hyperglycaemia, defined as blood glucose level above 11 mmol/l. Symptoms include tiredness, blurred vision, thirst, hunger, passing urine more often. The only sure way to test for this is testing your blood glucose.

High blood glucose with ketones

(defined as blood glucose level consistently above 15 mmol/l) – without insulin, the body breaks down fat for energy, releasing ketones into the blood. When ketone levels get too high, ketoacidosis occurs – you may even fall into a coma, which can be very dangerous.

Symptoms include thirst, hunger, passing urine often, fatigue, blurred vision, sweet or fruity smell on your breath, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting.

Usually occurs in those with type 1 diabetes.

High blood glucose without ketones (also called hyperosmolar

hyperglycaemic state), is defined as blood glucose levels approaching 40 mmol/l or more – you experience nausea, dehydration, confusion, fever and even coma.

It usually occurs in those with type 2 diabetes.

The long-term complications of diabetes include:

Heart problems

– High blood glucose and cholesterol levels can cause the blood vessels to narrow and clog. It has been said that diabetics have two to four times the risk of heart disease compared to someone who doesn’t have it.

Eye problems – diabetic retinopathy is a serious eye complication of diabetes, and can lead to blindness.

Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include blurred vision, dark empty spots in vision, difficulty adjusting from bright to dim light, poor night vision and even sudden loss of vision.

● Nerve damage – Nerves can be damaged if consistently exposed in a high glucose environment.

This nerve damage can affect the heart, bladder, gut and sexual organs, leading to various problems.

Nerve damage can also affect the peripheral nerves, causing loss of feeling in the feet. This means you can hurt your feet without realising it, and foot sores that develop can become a serious problem very quickly as they are hard to heal.

Kidney problems – the blood vessels in the kidneys can be damaged by high glucose levels. Over time, kidney failure may ensue.