Diabetic complications

When a person has diabetes they can develop serious diabetic complications over a period of time. Diabetic complications can arise when the person who has diabetes fails to keep their blood glucose levels low. However, if the diabetic is able to maintain a stabilized blood glucose level throughout their lifetime they may never have to suffer from diabetic complications. The best way to prevent diabetic complications is to get regular checkups, follow doctors orders, follow the proper diet, take your prescribed medications and exercise regularly.

If the diabetic fails to maintain a low blood sugar level it can cause damage to vital blood vessels. As a result of these damaged blood vessels certain diabetic complications can arise, like retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy. These are all complications that can arise to the eyes, nerves and kidneys and there are other complications that can arise too.

Diabetic retinopathy is one of diabetic complications that affect the tiny blood vessels in your eyes. When a person has uncontrolled high blood sugar levels for years it can weaken the walls of the blood vessels to your eyes which will then allow fluid to leak out. It is a statistical fact that almost everyone who has type I diabetes will also have various levels of retinopathy or damage to their eyes at within 20 years after their diagnosis. On the other hand, up to 25% people who have type II diabetes will develop retinopathy within two years of their diagnosis.

Diabetic complications that end up being neuropathy or nerve damage can affect your feet, legs, hands, digestive tract, sexual organs and urinary tract. Neuropathy is the most common occurrence of all types of diabetic complications. In fact, in the United States, 87% of the people who need to have amputations done the reason is because of diabetic complications caused by neuropathy.

Kidney disease is also listed among the well known diabetic complications. Kidney disease is also caused by damage to the small blood vessels because of extended periods of high glucose levels. The damages done to the kidneys allow protein molecules to spill out into the urine. People who have diabetic retinopathy or high blood pressure are also at higher risk to develop kidney disease.

Diabetes complications can also include heart disease, heart attack and stroke, blindness, impotency in men and gangrene in the extremities because of nerve damage that ends up doing so much damage that amputating a limb may be required.

Diabetic complications are very difficult to treat. Most doctors will tell their patients to monitor their blood sugar carefully so that they can keep the blood sugar levels down and prevent complications. Diabetic patients are told to try to keep their blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible. When there is excess blood sugar in the cells it causes a condition known as glycation end products formation.

To prevent diabetes complications you should pay particular attention to your diet and make wise food choices. Becoming overweight because of poor food choices can lead to diabetes. Following a good diabetic diet can help you keep your blood sugar levels in check. It will also ensure that you have best possible nutrition for your condition. Furthermore, people who have diabetes should exercise regularly to prevent diabetic complications. Exercising regularly helps to keep your blood sugar levels under control. Daily exercise is a must. It has been proven diabetics who fail to exercise regularly will have more trouble controlling their blood sugar levels than those who exercise consistently. Exercise and diet can not only prevent diabetic complications that it can reverse some of them also.

Last updated on Sep 15th, 2010 and filed under Diabetes Mellitus. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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