Why does diabetes eventually develop if blood sugar levels remain consistently high?

THE diabetes (diabetes) develops when blood sugar levels remain consistently high because the body's insulin-producing and -utilizing system is overloaded over the long term and then exhausted. The main steps of the process are:

• Continuous insulin production pressure: 

Persistently high blood sugar levels cause the pancreas to produce more and more insulin to get the sugar into the cells. This constant overload eventually exhausts the insulin-producing beta cells 7 .

• Development of insulin resistance: 

Over time, cells become less sensitive to insulin, meaning more insulin is needed to absorb the same amount of blood sugar. This condition is called insulin resistance, which further increases the workload on the pancreas 5 7 .

• Beta cell fatigue: 

Due to constant overload, the beta cells of the pancreas gradually lose their ability to produce insulin. At some point, they can no longer produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugar levels 5 7 .

• Persistent increase in blood sugar levels: 

When there is no longer enough insulin, glucose cannot enter the cells and remains in the blood, causing blood sugar levels to become persistently high. This leads to a diagnosis of diabetes 4 5 .

• Complications: 

Continuously high blood sugar levels damage blood vessels, nerves, kidneys, eyes and heart in the long term, which can lead to serious complications (such as heart attack, stroke, vision loss, kidney failure) 3 4 8 .

In summary:

Persistently high blood sugar levels first lead to insulin resistance, then to pancreatic fatigue, and finally to diabetes, because the body is no longer able to produce or use enough insulin to regulate blood sugar 5 7 .