Diabetes mellitus is the result of chronically elevated blood glucose. It's caused by problems with the hormone insulin, which is responsible for pulling glucose out of the blood and into fat cells, muscle, and the liver. People with diabetes mellitus either don't produce enough insulin, or their body doesn't respond strongly enough to the insulin they do produce (or some combination of the two). Elevated blood sugar can cause a number of health problems in people with diabetes mellitus.
Cardiovascular Problems
One of the side effects of abnormally high glucose levels in patients with diabetes is the development of cardiovascular disease. Diabetes can lead to cardiovascular problems in two different ways: through the promotion of plaques in the arteries (also known as atherosclerosis) and by causing high blood pressure. According to diabetes.org, high blood sugar in diabetics aids the formation of fatty deposits in the arteries, which narrows them and makes them stiffer. These plaques can block off an artery or break off and clog a smaller artery elsewhere in the body, potentially leading to a stroke or cardiac arrest. High blood sugar in diabetics is also associated with high blood pressure, which puts additional strain on the heart.
Neuropathy
Another effect of abnormal glucose levels in patients with diabetes mellitus is neuropathy, the clinical term for nerve damage. According to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, elevated blood sugar levels can damage nerves in the body. This can pose a serious risk for diabetics, especially because the nerves that carry sensory information from the extremities (such as the feet) can be affected. This can lead to patients not being able to tell when their feet are injured, leading to cuts and sores that become infected (sometimes requiring amputation). Diabetic neuropathy can affect nerves anywhere in the body and can cause loss of function in whatever nerves are damaged.
Eye Problems
Another complication of abnormally high blood glucose is damage to the retina in the eyes, also known as retinopathy. According to Medline, elevated blood sugar over time causes damage to the red blood cells in the body, causing them to be abnormally shaped. This can lead to the blood vessels that give blood to the retina (the part of the eye that is responsible for vision) becoming blocked. Over time, this causes damage to the retina, eventually leading to blindness. Once the retina has become damaged, the loss of vision is permanent.
