Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by increased blood glucose levels in your body.
Insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas, helps break down sugar from the food you eat, converting it into energy and distributing it to your cells. It also regulates the blood sugar level. When insulin is not enough or is not utilized properly inside the body, the result is hyperglycemia (increase in blood sugar level). This indicates that a person is suffering from diabetes.
Failure to prevent and manage diabetes can lead to severe complications and untimely deaths.
Health Complications From Diabetes
- Blindness. Blurred vision and loss of vision are common symptoms experienced by people who are suffering from diabetes. Diabetic Retinopathy, or blindness due to diabetes complications, results from damage to blood vessels in the eyes caused by long-term and consistent increase in the blood sugar level.
- Nerve Damage. Diabetic Neuropathy involves the damage of nerves due to high glucose level in the blood. Symptoms include numbness and tingling sensations in legs, feet, arms, and hands. It also weakens the muscles and affects your balance. If blood sugar level is not properly managed, it can lead to severe disablement.
- Kidney Failure. Kidney damage or Diabetic Nephropathy is one of the long term effects of diabetes. This happens when too much sugar is present in the blood and kidneys can no longer filter it out, which causes the kidneys to fail. Hemodialysis and kidney transplant are the possible options for anyone suffering from end-stage kidney failure due to diabetic nephropathy complications.
- Cardiovascular Diseases. Diabetes causes nerve damage to vital organs of the body, including your heart. This poses greater risks of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks, hypertension, and strokes.
- Pregnancy Complications. Gestational diabetes is common to pregnant women. During pregnancy, the pancreas produces less insulin, which causes the blood sugar to rise. Gestational diabetes may disappear after giving birth but can impact the baby’s health.
Diabetes can be prevented. Eating healthy and maintaining your weight helps regulate your blood sugar level. Annual physical exams are also essential in early detection, prevention and monitoring of diabetes.
Never hesitate to take action when it comes to your health care needs
Schedule an appointment with us at (813) 462-2595 or visit Phoenix Medical Centers for more details
