What are the Complications of Diabetes?

By: John Richmond

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 common complication of diabetes. The risk of heart disease doubles when a person develops the disease. The arteries that supply blood to the heart become blocked with fat and cholesterol, blocking blood flow and increasing the chances for a heart attack.

Kidney failure: The kidneys remove waste products from the blood and then return it back to the body. Kidney failure occurs when the kidneys can no longer filter these waste products. Diabetes mellitus, a form of the disease that is associated with high blood sugar, is one cause of kidney failure. In due course, these high blood sugar levels damage the millions of tiny filtering units within each kidney. This eventually causes kidney failure.

Vision problems: Approximately fifty percent of all people with diabetes eventually develop vision problems. They are at higher risk for cataracts and glaucoma than those without the disease. The most severe complication of diabetes involving the eyes is diabetic retinopathy which occurs when the tiny blood vessels inside the retina become damaged. Many of the vision problems associated with diabetes can be treated with much greater success when caught early.

Nerve damage: A nerve disorder (diabetic neuropathy) is caused by diabetes. Some nerve damage causes pain. Other nerve damage removes the sensation of pain and causes numbness. Some people have both types of symptoms at the same time. The cause of diabetic neuropathy is unknown but having high glucose levels over a period of years is thought to play a large role.

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: Those with diabetes tend to have more sexual dysfunction than those who do not. Psychological problems related to dealing with the disease can play a role. Medications taken to control the disease can have an impact too. In men, nerve damage caused by the disease can result in various levels of erectile dysfunction. Women commonly have problems with lubrication, lack of desire and being predisposed to chronic vaginal infections may also interfere with normal sexual pleasures.

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.

While your doctor, dietitian, and others involved in your diabetes care will encourage and help you, the patient must take the initiative in avoiding the complications of diabetes. Make sure you take good care of yourself to prevent and minimize them because they are, to a large degree, preventable.

Article Source: http://www.retirementlivingarticledirectory.com

The author, John Richmond, has studied the complications of diabetes and has written several other articles about diabetes as well. To read them please go to www.YourDiabetesInfo.com

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