A major part of diabetes treatment involves the prevention of complications. Diabetes can cause serious damage to the cardiovascular system, eyes, and kidneys. The earlier the disease can be diagnosed the better because oftentimes the damage is occurring and the person isn't even aware of it.
Heart disease: This is the most frequently observed complication of diabetes. Heart disease is the leading cause of death associated with the disease. Chronic high blood sugar causes narrowing of the arteries, higher levels of triglycerides, lower levels of good (HDL) cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart attack. Adults with diabetes have heart disease rates about 2 times higher than those who do not.
Kidney disease and kidney failure: When kidney disease occurs, the kidneys stop filtering waste and excess water from the blood. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease and this complication of diabetes often ends in kidney failure. When kidney failure occurs, a persons only options for survival are dialysis or kidney transplant.
Vision problems: While many vision problems related to diabetes can be corrected early in the disease, complications can be much more severe long term. Blurred vision can occur because of changing glucose levels which affect the lens of the eye causing it to swell. Glaucoma and cataracts are frequent complications of diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy, a disease of the retina is also a concern and, people with diabetes are more likely to become blind that those who never get it.
Nerve damage: Numbness, pain and weakness due to nerve damage is a complication of diabetes. This often occurs in the legs, feet, arms and hands. The heart, digestive tract, and other organs can also have damage.
Infections: Those with diabetes tend to have more infections than those who do not. Early detection and treatment is important to minimize this problem. Gum infections are common and women with diabetes develop vaginal infections more frequently.
Sexual problems: Sexual complications of diabetes are related to the nerve damage that the disease causes. Men may have a problem getting and maintaining an erection or with ejaculation. Women may have problems with vaginal lubrication.
Foot problems: Nerve damage associated with diabetes can lead to serious foot problems. The inability to feel pain may result in the patient neglecting cuts and bruises which can lead to chronic infections. The loss of feeling can also result in Charcot foot which is a condition that affects the joints in the feet. The joints are repeatedly subjected to trauma and injury, resulting in damage to the ligaments, cartilage, and bones.
It's important to know how serious the complications of diabetes can be. The person with the disease is the one most responsible for doing the things necessary to minimize or avoid them. Think of diabetes care as full time job, and avoiding complications is well worth the effort. It's also important to know that keeping blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible is always the first line of defense.
The author, John Richmond, has studied the complications of diabetes and has written numerous other articles about diabetes as well. To read more about the disease please go to www.YourDiabetesInfo.com
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