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5 ways high blood sugar damages the body

How high blood glucose levels damage the heart, kidneys, eyes and more.

Jan 18, 2026
Home page>Endocrinology>Hyperglycemia>5 ways high blood sugar damages the body
Written byJameson Kowalczyk
Medically reviewedbyMark Arredondo, MDin March 2024
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Heart disease
Nerve damage
Kidney problems
Vision loss
Foot problems
Monitoring blood glucose levels
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Glucose the body’s major source of energy. It is made from the metabolizing of carbohydrates and used to power cellular activity in the muscles, brain and other organs. Glucose reaches these cells via the bloodstream, where the hormone insulin allows glucose to move from the bloodstream into cells. Blood glucose is often called “blood sugar.”

When a person has type 2 diabetes, their body is no longer able to effectively manufacture or use insulin. As a result, glucose is unable to move from the bloodstream into cells the way it should, and blood sugar levels become much higher than normal.

Elevated blood sugar levels can damage the body in a number of ways.

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