Diabetes mellitus is a type of hormonal disorder. It’s caused by a malfunction in the way your body uses blood sugar (either the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, or the body isn’t able to use the insulin it produces). Insulin is a hormone that manages blood sugar levels.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports diabetes as the ninth leading cause of death, with over 1.5 million deaths worldwide.
If you or a loved one has been recently diagnosed with Diabetes, here’s help to make your journey easier. We will provide all answers at Doral Health & Wellness, and here we will tell you about everything you can expect with diabetes in the long run.
DID YOU KNOW THAT HIGH BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS CAN LEAD TO SEVERE HEALTH COMPLICATIONS?
If not managed and controlled, diabetes can affect every organ of your body. Let’s take a closer look at some of the serious complications:
- Heart Diseases & Stroke
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports heart disease as the leading cause of death in the United States. It is also the most common complication of hyperglycemia (high blood glucose levels).
- Diabetes affects your blood vessels and heart health.
- This can cause problems with circulation.
- May lead to complications such as coronary artery disease (leading to a heart attack) and stroke.
*High blood pressure and high cholesterol, along with diabetes, contribute to increasing the risk of a heart attack.
According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), diabetes increases your chances of having a stroke by almost 2 times. If you are having a stroke, you might experience:
- Dizziness & Confusion
- Difficulty speaking
- Numbness/ paralysis on one side of your body
- vision problems
If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.
2. Eye problems
Diabetes can damage the tiny blood vessels in your eyes and cause problems like:
Diabetic retinopathy
- Caused by damage to the capillaries (small blood vessels) in the retina (back of the eye).
- This can lead to distortion and eventually permanent loss of your eyesight.
Cataracts
- 5 times more common in diabetics.
- Causes blurring of your vision (due to clouding of your lens).
- May need lens replacement surgery (severe cases).
Glaucoma
- Twice as common in diabetics.
- Increased pressure in your eye and decreased blood flow to your retina and optic nerve.
- Causes a gradual loss of vision.
Macular edema
- This happens because of diabetic retinopathy.
- Causes leakage of blood into the macula (it’s a part of your eye that lets you see faces and read) and swelling.
- This leads to blurred vision and potential loss of vision.
- Diabetic kidney disease (Nephropathy)
Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease.
- High blood sugar levels over time can damage your kidneys’ blood vessels and the ability to filter waste out of the body.
- It may lead to the need for dialysis and a kidney transplant (in severe cases).
- Neuropathy
Excess sugar in your bloodstream can damage the nerves, mostly the ones in your hands & feet. This can lead to:
- Pain & burning sensations
- tingling
- numbness
Sometimes, the nerves of your stomach may get damaged, leading to gastroparesis (difficulty in emptying the stomach due to loss of muscle tone and contraction).
- Skin & Wound Healing Problems
- Nerve and blood vessel damage leads to restricted blood flow to your extremities (due to prolonged high blood sugar levels).
- This leads to poor wound healing and skin infections.
- Small cuts or sores take longer to heal and may turn into deep ulcers.
- Gangrene and finally amputation (commonly of the foot) may be the last resort.
- Fertility problems
- Diabetes is linked to erectile dysfunction and impotence in men.
- In pregnant women, diabetes increases the risk of several complications- organ damage to the fetus, premature delivery, and excess birth weight.
- Diabetes also increases the chances of irregular periods, PCOS, and infertility in women.
- Dental complications
- You are at an increased risk of Periodontitis (inflammation, bleeding, and swelling of the gums) if blood glucose is not effectively managed. It may lead to tooth loss and is linked with an increased risk of coronary heart disease.
The longer you’ve had diabetes, the greater the risks for complications. The only way to control or manage many or all these diabetes complications is through proper care. The better you manage your blood sugar levels, the lower your chances of developing complications, and the better your health.
If you need help with diabetes management, visit us to get professional medical help. Our diabetologists create personalized treatment plans to ensure you lead a fulfilling life. Book your appointment now, call us on + 1-718-367- 2555 to get your condition treated!!! Learn more about Diabetes at www.doralhw.org. and stay up to date on current health topics and new research. If you need help, register your information and make direct contact with our doctors at https://yuz88hfiyh7.typeform.com/Doralintake. Or visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212.
