6 Health Issues Linked To Diabetes

By Author: Monica Quinn
Total Articles: 110
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Diabetes mellitus is a group of conditions that impact the body's usage of blood sugar (glucose). Glucose is an essential source of energy for the muscles and tissue cells. It is also the primary source of fuel for the brain.

The primary cause of diabetes varies depending on the type. However, diabetes, regardless of the kind, can result in an excess of sugar in the blood. Too much sugar in the bloodstream can increase your likelihood of various diseases. In this article, we have gathered six health issues linked to diabetes that you shouldn't ignore.

1. Diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease)
Urine testing for diabetic nephropathy should be done once a year if you have diabetes (kidney disease). To evaluate how well your kidneys are functioning, a baseline creatinine blood test should be performed. If you have high blood pressure, heart disease, or a family history of renal failure, you may need to be checked more frequently.

A sample of your urine will be tested for albumin, a blood protein that can show up in your pee if your kidneys are ...
... damaged. Your doctor will also monitor your blood pressure on a regular basis because controlling high blood pressure is critical in decreasing renal damage.

2. Damage to the nerves (neuropathy)
Sugar can damage the walls of the small blood arteries (capillaries) that supply the nerves, particularly in the legs. This might produce tingling, numbness, burning, or pain, which commonly starts at the tips of the toes or fingers and extends upward. Damage to the digestive nerves might result in nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation. It may cause erectile dysfunction in males.

3. Eye problems
Diabetes-related vision issues include:
- Retinopathy occurs when blood vessels in the retina get damaged, resulting in visual loss.
- Macular oedema is a swelling of the macula caused by damaged blood vessels in the retina, resulting in fluid buildup
- Cataracts mean the lens of the eye gets clouded, causing vision to become foggy, distorted, or glare sensitive
- Glaucoma is the pressure of the fluid within the eye rising over what is normal

Even though the majority of people with eye damage don't experience any symptoms in the early stages, some indications call for immediate attention. If you have flashes of light, floaters, blots, and dots, or if part of your vision is missing, contact a diabetic eye doctor right away.

4. Oral issues
Diabetes increases the risk of major tooth and oral health complications. This is due to the fact that uncontrolled diabetes inhibits white blood cells, which are the body's principal defense against infections in the mouth. Persistent plaque can cause tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss over time. So be on the lookout for symptoms of gum disease, such as swollen, painful, or bleeding gums.

5. Erectile Dysfunction
Diabetes raises the risk of having erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence. For some men, treating their erectile dysfunction may be as simple as changing to a healthy lifestyle, which includes quitting smoking, exercising consistently, and managing their stress levels.

It's essential to discuss your erectile dysfunction with your doctor, as your doctor may be able to prescribe various treatments, such as drugs, a vacuum constriction device (VCD), and other erectile dysfunction options.

6. Skin problems
Diabetes can cause extremely dry skin because of damage to the tiny blood vessels and nerves. People who suffer from diabetes frequently experience extremely dry skin on their feet. There are other skin disorders associated with diabetes. High blood glucose levels might have an effect on skin health over time. Because the skin serves as a barrier to protect our bodies from infection, it is critical to keep it as healthy as possible. When the skin becomes dry, it can break and become infected.

Greetings, my name is Monica. I graduated from New York Medical College and work as a nurse in Queens Hospital at the moment. The thing I love the most is morning jogging, because it is a wonderful way to keep myself in tonus. I like to communicate with people who care about their health. I became a vegetarian five years ago. Now my daily menu consists mainly of vegetables, fruits and different cheeses. I am a member of water polo team and I love gardening. I like to see how huge flowers grow out of the tiny petal, it dazzles me because I love spending my time outdoors. My goal is to visit all the USA parks, and then all over the world)