
Are all blood sugar spikes harmful?
Allulose StoreNot all blood sugar spikes cause immediate, irreversible damage, but frequent or significant blood sugar spikes can be harmful in the long term for health, even without diabetes:
Occasional, mild increases in blood sugar levels – for example, after a large meal in a healthy person – are usually manageable for the body and do not cause permanent damage.
However, if blood sugar spikes occur regularly or blood sugar levels are persistently high, the following processes may begin:
• Oxidative stress and inflammation:
During repeated and significant glucose spikes, the amount of free radicals in the body increases, which can lead to oxidative stress and chronic inflammation: 2
This damages cells, mitochondria, and DNA, accelerates cellular aging, and may contribute to the development of various diseases (e.g., heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cognitive decline): 2 5
• Vascular wall and tissue damage:
Persistent or frequent high blood sugar levels damage blood vessels over years, which can lead to complications such as diabetic foot, retinopathy, neuropathy or kidney failure: 3 6
• Insulin resistance:
Frequent spikes in blood sugar levels can cause insulin resistance, which further increases the risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and even certain types of cancer: 5
• Weakening of the immune system and other cell damage:
High blood sugar levels impair immune system function, promote inflammation, and can cause cell death, chronic muscle spasms, and even increase the division of cancer cells: 4
Too much glucose reduces the energy supply to cells.
Every spike in blood sugar damages the long-term energy-producing ability of mitochondria. (Fitness)
Physical or mental events – e.g. running a marathon, stress – can be overcome with the energy produced by mitochondria!