Diabetes Complications
By: Tania IvanovichTotal Views: 272, Word Count: 669,
Diabetes complications constitute all the diseases and health hazards caused due to the lethal effects of diabetes on the vital body organs. Diabetes is a hormonal disorder of distortion in the production of insulin which is essentially required for the metabolism of the body. Along with the primary abnormalities in increasing the glucose level of the body, it plays secondary functions by posing severe health damage to heart, eyes, kidneys and nerves. The complications created by diabetes are as follows:
The effect of diabetes on eyes:
- Retinopathy: This is the disease of retina, the light capturing layer found at the back of the eye. Diabetes causes severe damage in the small blood capillaries of retina. Retinopathy develops during puberty and old age. This disease is the cumulative result of long term diabetes. With the passage of time, these damaged vessels displace the retina. The detachment of retina leads to floating spots and flashing lights.
- Cataract: This is manifested in the form of a cloud formation over the lens of the eye. The function of lens is to focus light on the retina. Surgery is required for the removal of cataract. To prevent the loss of eyesight a plastic lens is fitted in the actual position of the lens.
- Glaucoma: This is caused due to the damage in the optic nerve of the eye because of the pressure which decreases blood flow in the retina. Medications are available to lessen the pressure.
Damage caused in the nerves:
- Prolonged diabetes may lead to the development of a disease known as neuropathy. Diabetes affects acutely the nerves in different parts of the body.
- Initial symptoms of neuropathy are tingling, irritation and pangs of pain in the feet and lower legs.
- The injury or wound cannot be felt or sensed easily by the patients of diabetes.
Diabetes afflicts the patient with different types of neuropathy:
- Peripheral neuropathy: This leads to pain and numbness in the region of feet, toes, hands and arms.
- Automatic neuropathy: This affects the digestive track, bowel, bladder and response to sexual urges with increase in the rate of perspiration. This may also lead to hypoglycemia unawareness, a state in which patients are unable to sense the warnings of low blood level in the body.
- Proximal neuropathy: This affects the area surrounding thighs, hips and legs causing pain.
- Focal neuropathy: This is the sudden muscle weakness caused due to the damage of a group of nerves in a particular area of the body.
Diabetes and heart troubles: The rate of heart diseases increases with the development of diabetes in the body.
- Diabetes can lead to the storage of fats and cholesterol in the arteries which supply blood to the heart causing a stroke or a heart attack.
- This can even hamper the blood supply to the foot resulting in foot ulcers and infections.
Other complications caused by diabetes are:
- Periodontal disease: The disease of gums is caused due to the accumulation of more plague and less saliva, high blood sugar in mouth can cause cavity.
- Disinfection in erection: This is a disorder caused in the function of firm erection during sexual intercourse. According to the American Health Association this prevails from 20 to 85% of men with diabetes.
- Reduction in the amount of vaginal lubrication: Diabetes damages the nerves surrounding the vagina, obstructing the lubricating facility of vagina for sexual intercourse.
The complications of this incurable disease can only be fought with the aid of effective medication and healthy- balanced diet control along with a set of exercise regime; information about which can be gained from a health book.
About the Author
Tania Ivanovich is a physician in a well established charitable health organization. Her work shuffles between anti-diabetic propaganda, campaigns and curing the patients of type-1 and type-2 diabetes. Her method of the treatment is inclusive of the natural and allopath medicines followed simultaneously with regular exercise. She advises her patients to read a book on diabetes to get well acquainted with the intake of diet and physical activity plan. For more information, a self help guide is recommended to the patients of diabetes:
How To Play The Diabetes Game To Win!
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