Diabetes Complications

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There are many complications of diabetes that commonly occur in patients who have not controlled their sugar intake. These complications can be delayed, and can be kept at a hold for many years, if blood sugar level is kept under strict control by regular exercise, and a proper diet. The common complications of diabetes are known to be heart attack, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and toe/foot gangrene. Let us briefly overview them.

Diabetes is basically a disease that has its pathological manifestations, at the level of micro-blood vessels. Hence, any micro blood vessel of any organ that will be involved, will lead to the loss of oxygenation and adequate supply of nutrition to that particular organ, as a result of which, there will be ischemic necrosis (death and dysfunction of that organ).

This principle is also applied to the nerves which are themselves supplied oxygenation and nutrients with small blood vessels. When these blood vessels are obstructed, they lead to the damaging of these nerves, which is seen in the form of a condition known as diabetic neuropathy. Because of this, a person may complain of numbness and tingling sensation of the extremities, diarrhea, erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence, impotence, facial, mouth and eyelid drooping, vision changes, dizziness and difficulty swallowing.

At the cardiac level due to diabetes, there may be a blockage of one or more of the coronary vessels which may lead to a heart attack. Similarly, there are many micro vessels in the brain too, which may get obstructed as a result of diabetes because of which, a stroke can occur. These are considered to be extremely dangerous complications of diabetes, and can be kept at a distance only with strict control onyour blood sugar level.

Similarly, if there is an obstruction of the blood vessel that is supplying proper amount of oxygenation and nutrition to the retina, diabetic ‘retinopathy’ may happen, which in extreme cases may lead to the leakage of blood in the retina and therefore, a significant disturbance in vision might be noticed.
Like the above mentioned basic principle, diabetes can also damage the kidneys by blocking and perforating its micro vessels. As a result, diabetic ‘nephropathy’ may occur. This is a serious condition, and if adequate control of blood glucose is not taken, it may lead to chronic renal failure which may ultimately lead to death.

One of the dreaded complications of diabetes pertains to the feet. People with long standing or uncontrolled diabetes, have their sensory nerves in the feet, in a state where they are not getting proper oxygenation. As a result, there is a loss of sensory supply to the feet and the patient might not notice his/her feet getting hurt and bacterial infections. Treating these infections becomes complicated, which can lead to foot or toe gangrene. In such a case, often a need is felt to amputate that particular limb.
In conclusion, maintain a really strict control of your blood sugar, in order to prevent dreadful complications.