Diabetes Complications

Diabetes ultimately leads to a condition called hyperglycemia or high blood sugar, and can affect blood vessels, nerves and other body organs.
(A) Diabetes Affects the Kidneys
The function of the kidneys is to cleanse blood of waste products and excess fluid by filtering blood to produce urine. When the kidneys fail to filter normally, a dangerous accumulation of fluid and wastes happens in the body.
It takes an unusually long period of time (10-20 years) for diabetic persons with kidney disease to develop kidney failure.




However, in most cases, diabetes has already been present years before it is detected, and organ damage may have already started. Persons with diabetes and kidney disease have a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes. Hence, an early detection of diabetes is important to control diabetes and prevent kidney failure.
(B) Diabetes Affects the Eyes
Diabetic retinopathy occurs when diabetes causes blood vessels in the eyes to weaken. Other factors such as smoking, pregnancy and high blood pressure can combine with diabetes to make retinopathy worse. Diabetes can cause the capillaries on the retina to leak or collapse. Fragile new capillaries may the grow on the retine, causing more damage.
Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy
A person can have diabetic retinopathy without knowing it as there is no pain or outward sign. As the condition progresses, the vision becomes hazy and blurry. These symptoms may come and go. However, if the condition is severe, clouded vision or blindness may follow.
Treatment
Reduce the the risk of vision loss from diabetic retinopathy by managing diabetes and overall health. Protect your vision by keeping blood sugar level in a health range.
Risk Factors
Factors that can worsen diabetic retinopathy are high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking.




(C) Diabetes Affects the Heart
Diabetes can cause other problems such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure. people with uncontrolled high blood sugar have a higher incidence of dying of a heart attack or stroke.
The build-up of glucose in the blood affects the lining of the artery walls. Arteries carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body. When a person has high blood sugar, the artery lining becomes damaged. This in turn allows the accumulation of plaque in the arteries.
As the accumulation of plaque narrows the arteries, a blood clot can cut off blood flow resulting in a heart attack.
(D) Diabetes Affects the Feet
Persons with diabetes are more prone to suffer from foot problems and they should pay more attention to any injury to their feet. Frequent bruises and wounds that take an abnormally long time to heal should be checked for early symptoms of diabetes.