What are the Effects of a High Blood Glucose Level on the Immune System?

Glucose plays an important part in your body’s functioning. It’s primarily a source of energy for your muscles and organs and also plays a major role in the production of growth hormones. But an irregular level of glucose in the blood can cause many complications and can severally affect the proper functioning of your immune system. We will demonstrate in this article just what the effects of a high blood glucose level on the immune system are. We will also look at how your immune system works, how a high blood glucose level can affect it and how you can control your blood glucose level to keep your immune system working the way it should be.

An immune system is a collection of mechanisms within an organism that protects against diseases by identifying and killing pathogens and tumor cells.  The immune system primarily works using white blood cells, or leukocytes. There are two major types of white blood cells: the phagocytes and the lymphocytes.

Phagocytes work by attacking the invading organism and lymphocytes work by remembering the structure of the organism so the body will be better prepared for other attacks from the same organism. The most common types of phagocytes are neutrophils and they play a central role in the fight against bacteria.

Sometimes, the immune system might not function properly due to a variety of factors such as an autoimmune disorder, in which the immune system cannot make the difference between his own components and harmful pathogens, or allergic disorders in which the immune systems overreacts to certain antigens.

But other factors, such as a high blood glucose level, can cause immune system disorders. Per instance, someone with a high or irregular level of glucose in their blood runs the chance of overusing their insulin. A sudden surge of insulin is likely to cause an excessive production of growth hormones. Growth hormones will then depress your immune system and make it inefficient against invaders.

So how can you control your blood glucose level so it doesn’t affect your immune system? Well, there are a couple of small adjustments you can make to your diet that can make a huge difference on your blood glucose level. Try to go for foods that are high in fiber and that are made of complex carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates tend to be absorbed more slowly, lessening the impact on blood-sugar levels. If you are a diabetic, monitor your blood sugar level often and undergo hemoglobin A1c tests regularly.

We ave discussed the effects of a high blood glucose level on the immune system. We have seen that your immune system is what keeps you healthy and protects you from harmful diseases, so make sure you keep your blood glucose level steady. Monitor your blood sugar daily and change your eating habits accordingly. If you apply these simple pieces of advice, you will greatly improve your immune system’s longevity and your overall health.