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Why might high glucose levels contribute to faster aging?

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primates — aging Primates are among the longest-lived groups of mammals.

High glucose levels are linked to accelerated aging through a process known as glycation. According to the glycation theory of aging, simple sugars like glucose bind to essential molecules in the body, such as proteins and lipids.1

This binding process has a profound cumulative effect over a person's lifetime. The impact of this mechanism is evidenced by observations in diabetic individuals, who often exhibit both elevated glucose levels and shorter life spans, suggesting that glycation acts as a mediator of the aging process. While blood glucose concentrations naturally tend to rise more significantly after ingestion as people age, the body's ability to regulate these levels through insulin secretion often becomes less effective compared to that of healthy young adults.12