Complications of diabetes

Just like in any other illnesses, the first thing that people need is to be informed and educated about the disease that may be prone to. In case of diabetes, extensive knowledge about this can help people who are already suffering from it to cope up and manage and can also help those who don’t have it yet to be more careful and to avoid the illness. 

But, aside from having extensive knowledge on the disease such as its causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment, it also pays to know if there would be related complications. This is to prepare one's self—emotionally, physically, and emotionally—about the possibilities of coping not just with diabetes but other complications related to it as well. 

There are certain factors that affect people to be prone to diabetes such as age, heredity and ethnicity. But regardless of the risk factors, the related complications would just be the same. The following are just some of the complications of diabetes that people who are prone to it must pay attention to:

1. HEART DISEASE AND STROKE. Experts say that people who have diabetes have greater risks to having coronary heart diseases and to stroke compared to those who don’t have them. In fact, these complications are the lead causes of death among diabetics all over the world. People suffering from diabetes are prone to heart diseases and stroke because the fatty deposits brought by drastic changes in the body can block the arteries and leads to heart attack. Because of lesser amount of insulin in the body compared to regular people, diabetics have higher incidence of blood clotting and can also lead to high blood pressure or hypertension. 

2. DIABETIC KIDNEY DISEASE. Among people with diabetes, kidney failure is the most common complication because the blood-filtering units of the kidneys are being damaged. Once the kidney has been damaged, important proteins are being along with urine and eventually, the kidneys won't be able to remove the waste products present in the blood anymore. The good thing is, not all diabetics experience End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESRD) which can be life threatening. To avoid this complication, you must stop smoking cigarettes and always keep the blood pressure under control at all times. 

3. DIABETIC EYE DISEASE. This refers to the group of eye problems that diabetics—people with diabetes—may have as a result of the chronic disease. In worst cases, this set of eye related problems such as diabetic retinopathy, damaged vessels of the eye's retina, cataract, cloudiness in the lens of the eyes, glaucoma, and increased fluid pressure inside the eye that is damaging to optic nerve. All of these, when not treated immediately and now monitored properly can lead to total loss of vision loss or blindness. 

4. DIABETIC NEUROPATHY. Those people who are into smoking, drinking, and those who have poor control with glucose are more prone to developing neuropathy compared to those diabetics who are not into these vices and bad habits. 

5. GASTROPARESIS. This disorder involves the stomach as a result of prolonged emptying. Studies show that around 20 to 30 percent of diabetics suffering from "type 1 diabetes" are more prone to this diabetes complication because it severely damages the "vagus nerve" which is responsible for keeping the food moving through person's the digestive tract. Although it is also diagnosed among those who have "type 2 diabetes" the cases are comparatively lower.

Diabetes Symptoms

All too often we get sick but ignore the symptoms we may be
feeling, shrugging them off to a cold, stress from work, or
just not feeling well.


There are certain symptoms that shouldn’t be ignored if
they develop. These symptoms could lead to blindness,
amputation of limbs, coma or even death.

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes often come on suddenly and are
severely dramatic. The extra stress of diabetes can lead to
something called diabetic ketoacidosis.

Symptoms of ketoacidosis may include nausea and vomiting,
which may also lead to dehydration and serious problems
with the blood levels of potassium. This could lead to a
diabetic coma and ultimately death.

Other symptoms of diabetes may include extreme fatigue. We
all get tired at times, but diabetes triggers a more severe
fatigue than normal.

People with diabetes also experience unexplained weight
loss. This is because they are unable to process many of
the calories they consume. Losing sugar and water in the
urine also contributes to the weight loss.

Extreme thirst is another symptom of diabetes. Diabetes
develops high blood sugar levels and the body tries to
compensate by diluting the blood, which translates to our
brain that we are thirsty.

With this is also excessive urination. It is another way
our bodies have of getting rid of the extra sugar in our
system. But this can also lead to dehydration.

One of the hardest symptoms to deal with is poor wound
healing. Wounds heal slowly, if at all when the carrier has
diabetes. This along with infections that are not easily
remedied can attribute to ulcers and loss of limbs.

The Psychological Aspect of Diabetes

When people are diagnosed with diabetes, most of them are overwhelmed by the fact that they have this very serious disease. Some of them get frustrated or depressed, while others avoid a final diagnosis because they are in denial and don’t want to know that they are already diabetic.

You have to remember that living with diabetes is hard. This is why you need to understand people who have diabetes go through the denial phase. This disease can take a toll in a person's psychological health. Some get really depressed and stressed that it will aggravate the condition more.

Lifestyle changes should be made if you are suffering from diabetes. And, this can take quite a long time for the person suffering to get used to. Changing one's lifestyle is something that cannot be achieved overnight. Some may require dramatic intervention in order to get them to follow a diabetic lifestyle.

When people get depressed, most of them resort to overeating, drinking and even smoking. This is definitely something that diabetics should avoid. It may provide comfort at first but if you are a diabetic, then it can take a serious blow to your overall well-being.

If someone gets diagnosed with diabetes, they tend to go through the three emotions before they get to accept the disease as part of their life. They go through denial, anger, guilt. In the denial phase, people tend to use this emotion in order to avoid the changes they would have to make in their already comfortable life. Anger is also felt by people who get diagnosed by this disease. In most cases, they blame everyone. They blame their family, friends and they even blame their doctor for the disease. They also ask the question why they have to suffer from the disease.

Guilt is also another psychological phase that people who are diagnosed with diabetes go through. They tend to blame themselves for getting the disease and this can often lead to depression. Some even set out subconsciously to punish themselves for it.

Support from family and friends are important in order to minimize the depression they feel. By doing this, it will help in accepting the disease and that they have to live with it for the rest of their lives. The key here is to help the person suffering from diabetes to accept that they have the disease.

Another way to get the person diagnosed with diabetes to readily accept the disease as already part of their life is to educate them about diabetes. You have to remember that although diabetes is a very serious condition, there are ways to manage it effectively to the point that they will be able to live a normal life.

Once the person suffering from diabetes accepts that he or she has the disease, the easier it will be for them to live life. All it takes is a little support and education. Through these things, you can be sure that you will be able to help someone cope with diabetes.

Always keep in mind that diabetes can easily be managed if the person suffering from the disease accepts it and try to live with it as best he or she could. Through acceptance, life with diabetes will be easier for them to live. 

Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes Mellitus is also simply known as diabetes. It is
the disease characterized by a malfunctioning metabolism
and a high blood sugar level.


The result can be low levels of insulin or abnormal insulin
resistance. This mixed with inadequate levels of insulin
secretion results in diabetes.

Symptoms of diabetes mellitus include increased urine
production, excessive thirst, extreme fatigue, and
excessive thirst and weight loss. These symptoms though may
not be present in those people with only mildly elevated
sugar levels.

Diabetes mellitus includes type 1, type 2 and gestational
diabetes, which occur only during pregnancy. Each type has
a different cause and different severity of symptoms.

But all forms of diabetes are dangerous if not treated.
With proper management though, people with diabetes can
live a long, healthy, normal life.

The main cause of type 1 diabetes mellitus is the loss of
insulin producing cells in the pancreas. This ultimately
leads to an insulin deficiency.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is typically found in children and
young adults. It is also termed juvenile diabetes. The
common treatment for type 1 diabetes mellitus is daily
insulin injections to replace the insulin the body is not
producing properly, along with careful blood glucose
monitoring.

Without careful monitoring and treatment, complications
from diabetes could include loss of limps such as arms,
legs and feet, blindness and diabetic comas, which can be
fatal.

It is extremely important that if you suspect you or your
child to have symptoms of diabetes, that you visit your
doctor to be tested. If the tests are positive it is not
the end of the world. With careful monitoring and care,
type 1 diabetics can live long healthy lives.

Diabetes Epidemic

With obesity levels being at an all time high, the epidemic
of type 2 diabetes is growing at an alarming rate, and will
only get worse.


Between 2001 and 2002, the diagnosis of diabetes went from
5.5 percent of Americans to an alarming 6.5 percent. In
just one year!

Overall, twelve million Americans have been diagnosed and
another 5 million Americans have diabetes and don’t know
it. And yet another 12 millions are on their way to type 2
diabetes because of impaired glucose levels.

Not knowing is the worst because risks of untreated
diabetes puts us at a terrible risk of complications
including but not limited to blindness, amputations and
ultimately death.

The stickler is, that type 2 diabetes is almost completely
preventable. Doctor’s say eat less, eat better and
exercise. The numbers show just how many Americans are
currently overweight.

Statistically, people are now living longer, and it has
been on the rise for years. But this will not continue if
type 2 diabetes is not put under control.

We are a gluttonous society and ultimately it is affecting
how we live and how long we live.

And unfortunately, the diabetes epidemic is not just a US
problem. It is spreading worldwide with epidemic reports in
Asia, the Middle East and the Caribbean.

It is estimated that by 2025, the number of diabetics
worldwide will rise to 380 million. And diabetes is now
affecting more of the young and middle-aged population in
developing countries between the ages of 40 and 59.

Diabetes is a silent killer

Diabetes is a growing problem in this country. With our
population at an all time high in weight gain and a low in
health care, the problem is only growing.


Diabetes is a disease of the metabolism. Our metabolism is
what the way our bodies use digested food for energy and
growth.

Most food that is food processed  through our bodies is broken
down by digestive juices into a sugar called glucose.
Glucose is the fuel our bodies run on.

When we eat, and our food is processed, the pancreas is
supposed to produce the right amount of glucose from our
blood automatically and release the right amount of insulin
into our blood.

In people with diabetes, little to no insulin is produced
or the body’s cells don’t respond correctly to the insulin
that is produced. Therefore the glucose builds up and
overflows into the urine and passes out of the body.

This is how the body loses its main source of fuel even
though the bloodstream contains good amounts of the natural
glucose.

Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms | Diabetes Warning Signs

Keep eye on yourself if you feel any of these symptoms go to your GP as soon as you can.