The Effects of Uncontrolled Diabetes

1 in 10 Americans struggle with diabetes, and more than 90% of them have type 2 diabetes. If left alone, uncontrolled type 2 diabetes can wreak havoc on the body and lead to serious complications. 

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What does it mean to have uncontrolled diabetes?

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Your body needs protein, fat, and sugar for energy. If the sugar builds up in the blood instead of being used for energy, that sugary blood hurts circulation and causes damage.  Uncontrolled diabetes means your system has been overloaded with with sugar too long. The way we test for this is with an A1c test that shows what percent of sugary blood you have. For most adults with diabetes, uncontrolled diabetes is when your A1c is 7% or higher, according to the American Diabetes Association. An A1c over 9% is often referred to as very poor control. Higher A1c levels increase a person’s  risk of diabetes complications like heart, eye, nerve, or kidney disease. When A1c levels are not safe for your body, you should talk to your doctor about making lifestyle changes or trying another treatment approach to lower blood sugar into a safe range. 

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What causes uncontrolled type 2 diabetes?

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Uncontrolled type 2 diabetes can be caused by:

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• Not taking medications properly.
• Not enough medication or other therapies.
• Eating too many  starchy, or sugary foods (it’s not just the sweet snacks!).
• Not getting enough exercise. 
• Undiagnosed and untreated diabetes.
• Weighing more than your body’s insulin can keep up with

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Short-term complications of uncontrolled diabetes

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In the short term, uncontrolled unstable diabetes can cause symptoms like:

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• Very high blood sugar (hyperglycemia)
• Very low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)¹
• Frequent urination
• Intense thirst 
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue
• Slow-healing sores
• Increased infections
• Very dry skin
• Numbness or tingling of your hands or feet
• Blurry vision 
• Increased hunger²
• Dizziness
• Anxiety
• Nervousness
• Sweating
• Shaking³

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Long-term complications of uncontrolled diabetes 

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Long-term problems from uncontrolled diabetes include:

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• Vision problems, including difficulty seeing at night, sensitivity to light and blindness.  
• Nerve damage, causing numbness, tingling and burning, particularly in your hands and feet. It can also make it harder for males to achieve an erection. 
• Increased risk of stroke, heart attack and other circulation problems 
• Kidney damage that can end in kidney failure and dialysis. 
• Issues digesting your food properly, leading to loose bowel movements or constipation. 
• Sores and infections on the skin, potentially leading to amputations. 
• Depression. 
• Weakened immune system. 
• Irregular periods in females.
• Infertility. 
• Increased risk of dementia.⁴

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What organs are affected by uncontrolled diabetes?

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Uncontrolled diabetes can damage your:

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• Brain
• Eyes 
• Nerves
• Heart 
• Kidneys
• Digestive system
• Blood vessels
• Skin⁵

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Signs you might have uncontrolled diabetes

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If you notice the symptoms mentioned above or you have a difficult time maintaining healthy blood sugar levels despite trying different techniques to manage it, your diabetes may be getting worse. 

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Take back control from type 2 diabetes

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Having uncontrolled diabetes can feel incredibly hard and overwhelming. But there’s hope – there are some clinically proven methods for reversing type 2 diabetes and for lowering your blood sugar. Virta Health provides virtual care for people with type 2 diabetes by supporting lifestyle and dietary changes with resources like 1:1 coaching, and on-call physicians. 

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If you’re ready to take back control of your health, Virta may be able to help. See if you’re eligible for Virta here.

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