High blood sugar, also called hyperglycemia, can affect people of any age, but teenagers risk not reaching their full height and experiencing the delayed onset of puberty, according to The Nemours Foundation. High blood sugar is responsible for many of the complications associated with diabetes, such as nerve and kidney damage, and blindness. The longer you have diabetes and uncontrolled high glucose levels, the more likely it is you'll develop serious health problems.
Teenage Diabetes
Two types of diabetes can affect teenagers -- type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes occurs when your pancreas stops producing insulin, often caused by an autoimmune disease, and you'll need to take insulin daily. If your pancreas still produces insulin but your body doesn't use it effectively, you have type 2 diabetes. Types 2 diabetes used to be called "adult onset diabetes" because it was rare in younger people. But unfortunately younger people are now at risk for type 2 diabetes because of escalating adolescent obesity rates.
Long-term Dangers of High Blood Sugar
Too much glucose in your bloodstream damages the smaller blood vessels, weakening them and causing them to rupture. These smaller capillaries supply your heart, kidneys, nerves and eyes with oxygen and vital nutrients your cells need. The longer you have diabetes and uncontrolled high glucose levels, the earlier you may see problems develop. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the key to controlling your diabetes is keeping your blood sugar level as close to normal as possible.
Short-term Dangers of High Blood Sugar
High blood sugar levels might be one of the ways your teen is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Insulin is the hormone that moves glucose from your bloodstream into your cells for use as energy. If you have hypoglycemia, you might feel hungry and tired all the time because your cells don't get the energy they need. Other symptoms include slow healing time for wounds, dry skin, feeling thirsty, urinating frequently, blurry vision and tingling in your feet.
Teenagers and Hormones
Teenagers often have a difficult time controlling glucose levels because of the physiological changes caused by puberty, specifically growth hormone, which helps stimulate the growth of muscle mass and bone tissue during puberty. GH affects insulin levels, making blood sugar difficult to control. Between GH and another hormone, adrenaline, blood sugar levels can swing dramatically from hyperglycemic to hypoglycemic. This can be frustrating for a teenager working hard to control glucose levels through diet and medication.
