Slightly Elevated Blood Sugar Tied to Heart and Kidney Problems

Even moderately elevated blood sugar levels, where a diagnosis of diabetes would not yet be accurate, can still carry increased risk of heart or kidney damage. Higher blood sugar levels causing problems with the kidneys and heart is not new; doctors have known about it for a long time. But some recent research shows that higher blood sugar can cause problems regardless of whether or not it’s considered extreme enough to have turned into full diabetes.

Also called pre-diabetes by some doctors, the new research isn’t uniformly in agreement. Some studies point to issues, while others are less certain. Tens of thousands of adults are participating in studies, helping the medical research community gather data. Initial results seem to point to problems linked to pre-diabetic levels of blood sugar. But the issues aren’t universal; only some pre-diabetic individuals show elevated levels of risk when considered against their blood sugar.

Pre-diabetes is becoming more common, and causing more and more doctors to try and work with patients to make changes in their lifestyles prior to the onset of actual diabetes. Diet and exercise continue to be the cure for diabetes; and the prevention as well. Structuring your diet to reduce and control sugars and carbohydrates is by far the most effective method of sidestepping diabetes.

Key Points:

  • 1Your diet does affect your blood sugar levels. A low carbohydrate diet can lower your blood sugar numbers.
  • 2Some researchers believe that moderately high blood sugar levels, also known as pre-diabetes, may lead to heart disease.
  • 3Diabetes has a long history of being a risk factor for heart disease.


Patients who are told they have pre-diabetes should work with their providers to actively address it and initiate sustainable lifestyle changes and/or medications,” Ali advised.
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Written by HealthStatus
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HealthStatus has been operating since 1998 providing the best interactive health tools on the Internet, millions of visitors have used our health risk assessment, body fat and calories burned calculators. The HealthStatus editorial team has continued that commitment to excellence by providing our visitors with easy to understand high quality health content for many years.

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