Which is more dangerous? High Blood Sugar or Cholesterol?

Modern diets and lifestyles often put us at risk of two major health problems: high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia). Both have serious health impacts, but which one is more dangerous? To answer that, let's discuss the differences, impacts, and how to prevent them.

What Is High Blood Sugar?

High blood sugar occurs when glucose levels in the blood exceed normal limits. Normally, fasting blood sugar levels are 70–99 mg/dL. If left unchecked, high blood sugar can develop into diabetes mellitus, which can damage various organs of the body such as the heart, kidneys, eyes, and nerves.

Health Impact of High Blood Sugar:

1. Cardiovascular Complications: The risk of heart disease and stroke increases.
2. Nerve Damage (Neuropathy): Especially in the extremities, which can cause wounds to be difficult to heal.
3. Kidney Failure: High blood sugar can impair kidney function.
4. Blindness: Diabetic retinopathy is caused by damage to blood vessels in the eye.

What is high cholesterol?

High cholesterol occurs when the level of total cholesterol, LDL (bad cholesterol), or triglycerides in the blood rises beyond normal limits. Normal LDL levels are below 100 mg/dL, while normal total cholesterol levels are below 200 mg/dL.

Health Impact of High Cholesterol:

1. Atherosclerosis: Plaque buildup in blood vessels that causes narrowing of the arteries.
2. Heart Attack: Plaque can rupture and cause a complete blockage in the coronary arteries.
3. Stroke: Blockage of blood vessels in the brain due to high cholesterol.
4. Peripheral Artery Disease: Impaired blood flow to the extremities.

Which is More Dangerous?

Both are dangerous, but the impact depends on the individual condition:

1. High blood sugar: It tends to damage various organs of the body slowly, especially if it is not controlled.
2. High cholesterol: Faster triggers acute complications such as heart attack or stroke.

According to research, the greatest risk arises when these two conditions occur together. The combination of high blood sugar and high cholesterol can accelerate blood vessel damage, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease significantly.

 

How to Prevent It?

• Healthy Diet: Limit the consumption of added sugars, saturated fats, and processed foods.
• Physical Activity: Exercise for at least 150 minutes per week.
• Weight Control: Maintain an ideal weight to reduce the risk of both.
• Regular Checkups: Check blood sugar and cholesterol levels regularly.
• Avoid Cigarettes and Alcohol: Both can worsen blood sugar and cholesterol conditions.

Well, Hermina's friend, High blood sugar and high cholesterol have serious health risks. Nothing is more dangerous in absolute terms, as they are intertwined in increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Prevention and lifestyle management is key to maintaining overall health.

Reference:

1. American Heart Association. (2022). "Understanding Blood Sugar and Cardiovascular Risk."
2. World Health Organization. (2021). "Global Report on Diabetes."
3. Mayo Clinic. (2023). "High Cholesterol: Symptoms and Causes."
4. Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. (2022). "Guidelines for the Management of Cholesterol and Blood Sugar."