How Does High Blood Sugar Cause Tissue Damage and Heart Disease?
Glucose and other sugar molecules cause glycation; a process in which the sugar bonds with proteins and form so-called advanced glycation end products, or AGEs. Its a fitting acronym as it along with oxidation — is one of the major molecular mechanisms whereby damage accrues in your body, which leads to disease, aging, and eventually, death. When sugar glycates it creates inflammation, which activates your immune system in a defensive manoeuvre. Macrophages are scavenger cells that are part of your immune defense system, and as such they have special receptors for AGEs, aptly called RAGEs (think: raging inflammation). These RAGEs bind to the AGEs and get rid of them. Unfortunately, this process can leave its fair share of battle scars. Essentially, when you consume excess sugar you tend to produce and accumulate AGEs, which frequently lead to raging inflammation, which leads to damage in your arteries. The damage control ultimately takes its toll and you begin to form scar tissue, whi
