When my blood sugar levels get too high, I become physically ill. My head hurts, heart races and pounds heavily, I get very thirsty, and soon have to pee very often.
Those are the external immediate signs of hyperglycemia.
Internally, my blood becomes thicker than it should due to the glucose flowing in my veins. The tiny capillaries do not get proper blood flow, and those tissues supplied by them are deprived of vital nutrients. Insulin acts like a key. The cells are the locked doors.
If this goes on too long, a dangerous condition called diabetic ketoacidosis will develop. An oversimplified explanation is as follows. With too little insulin and too much sugar in my blood stream, the locks aren't opened, the glucose can't enter the cell, this is bad. Cells need fuel to function, with the glucose fuel, fat reserves are used for fuel, which is a system of bad things which cause damage to the kidneys. Fat is released from fat cells, they travel to the liver and are transformed into ketone units to be used as muscle cell fuel sources. Without insulin to stop this process and use glucose as fuel, the fat cells and liver keep doing their thing, causing a buildup of ketones and ketoacids. It changes the acid level of the blood, and at that point, it is a life threatening medical emergency.
Aside from DKA, hyperglycemia causes damage to organs and tissues, which is why diabetics can lose digits, limbs, vision, and develop organ failure of the kidneys.
I and all other T1s do our best to avoid this. Its dangerous, potentially deadly, and it feels like hell to live through.
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