High Blood Sugar Is a Toxin Like Lead or Mercury

Blood sugar can rise without any symptoms at all (about 30% of people with diabetes don't know they have the disease). However, the elevated sugar can cause damage that leads to heart disease, stroke, vision loss, kidney failure, and amputations. "Every time your blood sugar spikes to a particular level, it will cause an oxidative stress to your blood vessels," says Gerald Bernstein, MD, director of the diabetes management program at the Friedman Diabetes Institute at the Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City.