Diabetes-Associated Complications

Many diabetics overlook the fact that diabetes-associated complications are the real danger of not managing the disease properly. Long periods with high blood sugar are the cause of those complications and are the reason why good management is essential.

It's often difficult to remain disciplined before additional problems occur, when the threat seems to be an illusion. But those extra symptoms of diabetes are very real and debilitating once encountered.

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We're told it's all about living a normal lifestyle, but in essence, it's as much about retaining quality of life for as long as possible.

Heart disease and stroke are two possible complications and both are these days generally considered in a diabetic medication regime. Diabetics have their blood pressure and cholesterol levels tested as long as they see their medical practitioner at regular intervals.

High blood pressure can affect the kidneys and accelerate kidney disease, so regular checks are essential. Should swelling in your leg/s and/or feet occur repeatedly or not clear easily, it could indicate kidney disease.

Remember that your kidneys are filtering any additional sugar that cannot be absorbed. Deterioration is quite possible over several years. Drinking plenty of water can help keep your kidneys working well, just as regular exercise can, together with medication, reduce high blood pressure.

Anyone who has to contend with regular dialysis can tell you that it's inconvenient at best, and is also expensive. In some countries dialysis machines are in short supply. Without health insurance you could find it difficult to bridge the gap between a waiting list and dialysis which could be life-threatening.

Eye degeneration is also a possibility and all diabetics should see an ophthalmologist annually. If your vision has become blurred or blind spots occur (retinopathy) this could become necessary more often. Diabetics are susceptible to macular degeneration.

Poor circulation has several implications and deteriorates most the further away from the heart, so is most easily noticed in the feet and hands. It is called peripheral vascular disease. Why this is so important is because tissue with poor circulation can die, causing gangrene.

It is gangrene that causes diabetics to need amputations. Over half of those carried out could be avoided with good foot care; a really good reason to see a podiatrist from time to time.

Badly controlled diabetes can also result in diabetic neuropathy, which is damage to the nerves. This affects your ability to feel cuts or sores on your feet or hands and means diabetics often don't react quickly enough to sores that don't heal. A tingling numbness can be an indicator. This makes dedicated foot care another essential to good diabetic management, but because foot problems are crucial among diabetes-associated complications, I've dedicated another article particularly to it.

Diabetes-Associated Complications

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