Many of us have a ‘sweet tooth’ and sweet cravings once in a while are not dangerous but if you make it a habit to give in to these cravings it might prove to very costly for your health in the long term. Sugar in marginal quantities, is essential and good for the body as it helps to produce glucose and other nutrients, which are essential for the body. For example the brain needs sugar to perform various functions.
However we need to remember excessive sugar, especially of the processed or refined quality is extremely toxic, and can lead to several detrimental effects on the body in the long term. Firstly, an increase in sugar intake leads to a high blood sugar level, which is a precursor to one of the most widespread diseases in the modern era – Diabetes. This disease is like a slow poison for your body, and is caused by the inability of the pancreas to produce insulin and control blood sugar levels.
Once a person is affected by Diabetes, there are lifelong effects. If not taken care of at an early stage, Diabetes can cause permanent damage to various parts of the body. Therefore it becomes all the more important to detect the signs of high blood sugar levels at an early stage.
The first sign of high blood sugar is usually an increased frequency of urinating. This happens because the body is trying to flush out the extra amounts of glucose, which are constantly being stored in the body. Therefore a person with high blood sugar levels will often experience an increased need for urination.
Another sign of high blood sugar levels is the constant feeling of thirst and dryness in the mouth. This is inter-related to the above mentioned problem. As the body is flushing out water time and again, the person always finds the need to drink more fluid, which means that there is increased stress on the excretory organs, particularly the kidneys.
The third sign would be a sudden loss in appetite and weight. This happens because the body is not able to produce enough insulin to use up the glucose, the body starts breaking the muscle mass and stored fat to produce glucose.
Tiredness is another symptom, which sets in the body when affected by diabetes due to the body’s inability to produce glucose and also insulin. The person usually suffers from constant lethargy and fatigue.
High blood sugar levels are a prelude to diabetes. Therefore corrective measures should be taken like eating a healthy diet low in sugars and a regular exercise regime to stay healthy and fit