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The Question

07/01/09 09:37 AM

"How long does it take for blood sugar (lets say between 140 and 200 pp) to do irreprable damage?"

Asked By: fiercekitten

Category: Type 2

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I know anything outside of normal range does damage..but I'm wondering if the damage is reversable up to a certain point? One of my symptoms was extreme blurred vision when I had BS of nearly 400. Once I got it down to "closer" to normal (170 - 180 pp) it cleared up and I no longer have to wear glasses. Is it that way with kidney damage, pancreatic damage, liver damage, heart problems, etc?

Expert Answers (1)

07/03/09 10:34 AM

Thanks for writing dLife. You question are very good and very important, however there are other factors than blood sugar levels that can influence risk of eye, kidney, heart and other diseases that are associated with diabetes. These factors - which are very important- include blood pressure and blood lipid (cholesterol and triglyceride) levels. What also matters is how long these factors have been out of range as well as your genetic predisposition- such as family history. This is why it is so important to have regular visits to your health care provider to monitor blood and urine tests and perform examinations that can identity other important issues such as diabetic neuropathy and eye disease. Ask your doctor about how often you need to visit and request explanations of all test results as well as the best options to minimize risks of health problems. A visit to a certified diabetes educator for in-depth education on diabetes management will also be very valuable in helping you find out what specific lifestyle goals may be the most beneficial.

Answered By: Janice Baker

Accreditations: B.Sc., MBA, RD, CDE, CNSC

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Community Answers (1)

07/04/09 01:38 PM

I can really only go by my own and my family experience. Like the expert stated depends on how long you had high numbers. Even though mine were above 300 to 400 for a long time I have no damage to my eyes at all, in fact my last eye review was outstanding as the doc said I would never known you were diabetic looking at your eyes. My mom on the other hand ran we think 400 for about 20 yrs and went blind from it. I believe neuropathy is the only thing that can not be reversed at least for us it has never gone away only got better from meds.

Answered By: furball64801

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