Effects Of Uncontrolled Diabetes Effects of uncontrolled diabetes: The consequences of not controlling the blood glucose levels can be severe, depending on how long this glucose imbalance is allowed to continue. Damage as a result of diabetes can be broadly defined in three categories; irritation, shorter term complications, and long term complications.
Irritations
High blood glucose levels can result in mild and reversible irritations. Although not immediately life threatening, these can still be unpleasant. Some examples of these irritations are:
– Constant tiredness or fatigue
– Blurry vision
– Itching of the genitals – this is more pronounced in women
– Infections of the urinary tracts
– Obesity in sufferers
– Skin that heals very slowly
– Urinating frequently and constantly thirsty
Shorter term complications
These are more severe than mild irritations, and can be extremely serious, resulting in death if the remain untreated. Such complications are usually associated with very high blood glucose levels, generally above 400 mg/dl. The main examples are
– Ketoacidosis; Usually found in type-1 diabetes sufferers, the lack of insulin means that the body begins using fat for energy as the blood glucose level rises. In turn the blood becomes very acidic, leading to nausea …