Complications of Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease that increases your risk for many health problems. Being a metabolic disease that is closely tied to control in diet and lifestyle; diabetes when uncontrolled creates serious complications.

One complication associated with diabetes is eye problems like glaucoma and cataracts. Glaucoma results from a pressure build-up in the eye. This pressure restricts the blood vessels that carry blood to the retina and optic nerve causing damage and eventually loss of vision. Cataracts on the other hand, occur when the eyes’ lenses become clouded instead of clear. A more serious eye complication is retinopathy or death of the retina, causing blindness.

Foot complications are also common in diabetes. Examples include nerve damage (neuropathy), calluses, changes to skin in the foot, foot ulcers, poor circulation and in severe cases amputation. Foot care is very important for diabetics with a lot recommended to use diabetic socks and shoes designed to prevent the foot from injury and encourage blood circulation.

Skin complications are also common in diabetics. These include bacterial infections such as carbuncles and boils and fungal infections caused by Candida albicans causing itching in warm and moist areas of the body. Localized itching may also occur due to dry skin or poor blood circulation.

These complications are in fact avoidable. With correct and efficient control of diabetes coupled with dietary and lifestyle changes; diabetic complications can be prevented. The first step is of course efficient control of blood glucose. An indispensable tool for glucose control is of course a glucose monitoring system which is composed of a glucose meter, glucose test strips, glucose control solution, lancet and lancing device.

In the control of blood glucose, diabetics may also be given oral medications or insulin injections. For type 1 diabetes, insulin therapy is required and can be delivered either through insulin syringes or via insulin pumps. Insulin pumps have become more and more common these days as they eliminate multiple daily injections and they can be used with minimal disruption in the day to day life of a diabetic.

Dietary and lifestyle adjustments are of course essential to efficient blood glucose control. Food is the primary source of glucose so its intake must be planned accordingly. As diabetes is associated with obesity, an active lifestyle and healthy weight is recommended for diabetics. There are also studies correlating changes in blood glucose to stress; so a clean, healthy lifestyle is in order for most diabetics.