The weight of diabetes and its impact on daily life

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

HyperglycemiaPeople with type 2 diabetes often develop hyperglycemia, a condition where blood glucose levels stay elevated. Complications from hyperglycemia typically include shortness of breath, increased urination, and increased thirst. More severe complications include diabetic ketoacidosis – a condition where the body doesn’t have sufficient insulin to move excess glucose from the blood into the tissues.

These high levels of glucose in the bloodstream could induce a coma or in certain cases cause death.HypoglycemiaHypoglycemia is characterized by low levels of glucose in the blood. Low levels of glucose mean your body doesn't have enough energy to carry out its activities. Hypoglycemia causes brain fuel deprivation that, if unchecked, results in functional brain failure.

Rarely, if it is profound and prolonged, it can result in brain death. Hypoglycemia may lead to cardiac arrhythmias or irregular heartbeat, especially in patients with preexisting cardiac abnormalities. Severe hypoglycemia has been associated with increased risk of death extending many months and up to one year after the sentinel episode.

Apart from the mental stress that it could exacerbate, hypoglycemia often leads to defensive snacking out of fear that one may get hypoglycemic. Overeating due to defensive snacking may again worsen obesity6. One might wonder, though, that since excess blood glucose levels cause T2D, how could people with T2D be affected by hypoglycemia? Common causes include overdosing on insulin or other diabetes medications, over-exercising, consuming alcohol, and skipping meals.