Complications of Diabetes

     Written by : SMTV24x7 | Sun, Jan 05, 2020, 10:54 AM

Complications of Diabetes

People with diabetes are at risk for long-term problems affecting the eyes, kidneys, heart, brain, feet, and nerves. The best way to prevent or delay these problems is to control your blood sugar and take good care of yourself.

Eyes
It is recommended that people with diabetes see an eye doctor every year for a dilated eye exam. Eye problems that can occur with diabetes include:

Cataracts: A clouding of the lens of the eyes
Glaucoma: Increased pressure in the eye
Retinopathy: Eye changes with the retina in the back of the eye
Symptoms of eye problems include

Blurred vision
Spots or lines in your vision
Watery eyes
Eye discomfort
Loss of vision
If you have any changes in your vision, call your healthcare provider.

Kidneys
Have your urine checked for protein at least once a year. Protein in the urine is a sign of kidney disease. High blood pressure might also lead to kidney disease. Your blood pressure should be checked when you see your healthcare provider. Symptoms of a kidney problem include:

Swelling of the hands, feet, and face
Weight gain from edema
Itching and/or drowsiness. (This can occur with end stage kidney disease.)
Prompt treatment may slow the changes with kidney disease.

Heart and brain
All people with diabetes have an increased chance for heart disease and strokes. Heart disease is the major cause of death in people with diabetes. It is important to control other risks such as high blood pressure and high fats (cholesterol), as well as blood sugar.

Symptoms of a heart attack include:

Shortness of breath
Feeling faint
Feeling dizzy
Sweating
Nausea
Chest pain or pressure
Pain in the shoulders, jaw, and left arm
Warning signs of a stroke include:

Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, usually on one side of the body.
Sudden nausea
Fever
Vomiting
Difficulty speaking or understanding words or simple sentences
Sudden blurred vision or decreased vision in one or both eyes
Difficulty swallowing
Dizziness
Loss of balance or loss of coordination
Brief loss of consciousness
Sudden inability to move part of the body (paralysis)
Sudden intense headache
Call your doctor or go to an emergency room if any of these signs or symptoms occur.

Feet
High blood sugars can lead to poor blood flow and nerve damage. This can lead to slow healing of sores. You can experience severe pain, but you can also lose feeling in your feet. In serious cases, this may lead to amputation of your toes, foot, or leg.

Nerves
High blood sugars can affect all of the nerve endings in your body. Nerve damage can cause many problems. Symptoms of nerve damage include:

Burning pain
Numbness
Tingling or loss of feeling in the feet or lower legs
Constipation and diarrhea
Problems with sexual function in both men and women
Neuropathy
Neuropathy is a disorder of the nervous system that can affect people with diabetes. There are different forms of neuropathy, including:

Peripheral neuropathy: Damage to the peripheral nervous system
Autonomic Type I: Damage to the nerves of internal organs
Gastroparesis: Movement of food through the stomach slows or stops
Postural hypotension: Drop in blood pressure due to change in body position
Uncontrolled diarrhea