Whether you know or do not know high blood sugar level over a period of time can gradually damage your blood vessels. This is the case if the sugar level is just above the normal level for a long time. The adverse health effects are noticed often years after the diabetes is developed.

The long-term adverse health effects include:

• Hardening of the arteries. This can lead to chest pain, heart attack and stroke. This can cause also poor blood circulation.
• Kidney damage which may lead to kidney failure.
• Eye and vision problems. It is due to the damage of the small arteries of the retina at the back of the eye.
• Nerve damage.
• Due to poor blood circulation and nerve damage impotence.
• Poor blood circulation and nerve damage can make foot problems.
• Skin and mouth conditions. You can more susceptible to skin problems including fungal and bacterial infections.
• Diabetes can lower the bone mineral density, thus increases the risk of osteoporosis.
• Diabetes may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.
• Diabetes can cause hearing problems

You may not develop all these health problems. It is different in individuals according to the severity of the diabetes. The risk is reduced if you are also treated for your high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels.

Untreated type-2 diabetes increases the blood sugar level very high and the short-term adverse health effects are dehydration, drowsiness and other conditions which can be life threatening.