People with diabetes are often warned about complications affecting the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart.
But there’s another lesser-known issue that deserves attention. Did you know that diabetes can make your blood thicker, a condition sometimes called ‘sticky blood’? This change in blood consistency can increase the risk of clots, strokes, and other cardiovascular problems.
Understanding how and why this happens is essential not just for those with diabetes, but also for those at risk.
What causes blood to become ‘thicker’ in people with uncontrolled diabetes, and how does this affect circulation?
Kanikka Malhotra, consultant dietician and diabetes educator, tells indianexpress.com, “When diabetes is uncontrolled, the sugar in your blood makes it act more like syrup than water. Just as sugar syrup is thicker and flows more slowly than plain water because of its high sugar content, blood thickened with glucose doesn’t flow as well either, and readily clumps together.”
She continues, “This ‘stickiness’ is further augmented with higher levels of clotting proteins such as fibrinogen, just as syrup gets thicker when more ingredients are added. High blood sugar also causes excessive urination, and this can result in dehydration and ultimately, an increase in blood concentration, causing it to be even more viscous. Viscosity is the degree to which the blood clots and when it is too viscous, it progresses slower through the small blood vessels or capillaries as we can see in the picture above, this makes it more difficult to deliver oxygen and other nutrients to the tissues and consequently the heart is forced to push harder, to pump the blood where it needs to go.”
Potential health risks of increased blood viscosity in diabetics
Health hazards due to the higher blood viscosity in diabetes are considerable and even occur at an early stage of the disease.
“Thicker blood is more prone to clots, which increases the danger of cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes. The microvascular system in these organs (i.e, retina, kidney, and nerve) is also adversely affected by the reduction in blood flow, contributing to diabetic complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy. Such haemorheological alterations might be observed before the onset of mature symptoms, serving as an early warning symptom, which could be associated with subsequent serious disturbances of blood rheology if the blood sugar level remains uncontrolled,” states Malhotra.
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Lifestyle or medical interventions that can help prevent or reduce this ‘sticky blood’ effect
Malhotra suggests, “Maintaining hydration and regular exercise, such as taking frequent short walks after meals, can improve vessel function and blood circulation. Food choices emphasizing omega-3 fatty acids, fibre, and plant foods rich in iron contribute to vascular health and perhaps decrease the stickiness of blood.”
Above all, she says, maintaining optimal blood glucose levels through medication and lifestyle control is essential for reducing blood viscosity. Monitoring blood parameters such as fibrinogen and hematocrit at regular intervals can assist in individually tailored treatment and preventing diabetic complications.
DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.
