Consequences and complications of diabetes

The first consequence of diabetes is the deterioration of your small and main arteries. This damage to the arteries will cause serious complications in the long term. The cardiovascular risk factors, particularly smoking and high blood pressure, can only increase the risk of complications.

Damage to the main arteries
Cardiovascular accidents are the primary cause of death in diabetics.

When the arteries of your legs are affected by atherosclerosis this is called arteriopathy of the lower limbs. The blood has to struggle to reach the end of your feet and your legs and feet are poorly irrigated and very little oxygenated. Your feet are cold, even blue.

Damage to the smaller arteries and capillaries
This is more specific to the diabetic and causes chronic complications in the kidneys, eyes, and nerves.

When your kidneys are functioning very poorly, this is called renal failure. The damage to the small arteries of the eye is called retinopathy.

You can also slow down the development of this pathology by treating your diabetes and your risk factors.

Like the other complications, the risk of developing neuropathy increases depending on how long the individual has been diabetic.

Diabetic foot is an evolution of neuropathy and arteriopathy that has gone wrong. The lack of sensation in the feet often results in a diabetic suffering wounds without noticing.

Symptoms of Diabetes

The most consistent symptom of diabetes mellitus (Type I and II) is elevated blood sugar levels. In Type I (insulin dependent / early onset) diabetes, this is caused by the body not producing enough insulin to properly regulate blood sugar. If you find yourself experiencing many of these diabetes symptoms on a consistent, long term basis, you should visit a doctor to be tested for diabetes. Ignoring (or not recognizing) the symptoms of diabetes can lead to long-term serious health risks and complications from untreated diabetes. Some of the common ‘early warning’ signs of diabetes are:
The first symptom of diabetes is often excessive thirst (unrelated to exercise, hot weather, or short-term illness)
If diabetes is suspected, tested for, and diagnosed when those symptoms first start appearing, other more serious symptoms of advanced diabetes can often be prevented or have their onset significantly delayed through diet, exercise and proper blood sugar management.
However, often the ‘minor’ symptoms of diabetes go unrecognized, and physical and neurological problems may arise, resulting in some
of the following symptoms:
Blurred vision (diabetes can lead to macular degeneration and eventual blindness)
Numbness and/or tingling in the hands and feet (peripheral neuropathy, a symptom of diabetes, causes nerve damage in the extremities)
Slow healing of minor scratches and wounds (diabetes often leads to impaired immune system function)
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms on a regular basis, or you recognize these symptoms in a child or relative, they may be signs of untreated diabetes.


Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms
The symptoms of Type I diabetes often come on suddenly and very severely. They include:
• being exceptionally thirsty
• dry mouth
• the need to urinate often
• weight loss (even though you may be hungry and eating well)
• feeling weak and tired
• blurry vision

Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms
Sometimes, people with Type II diabetes don't notice any symptoms or the symptoms are experienced gradually. They include:
• blurry vision
• cuts or sores that are slow to heal
• itchy skin, yeast infections
• increased thirst
• dry mouth
• need to urinate often
• leg pain

What is Diabetes

Diabetes is a long-term (chronic) condition caused by too much glucose (sugar) in the blood.
How does diabetes occur?

When food is digested and enters your bloodstream, insulin moves any glucose out of the blood and into cells, where it is broken down to produce energy.
However, in those with diabetes, the body is unable to break down glucose into energy. There are two types of diabetes - type 1 and type 2.

Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes occurs in about 10-15% of all cases of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body’s immune system destroys the cells of the pancreas that produce insulin (autoimmune response). Only a small number of people have this genetic risk.
What happens in the body with Type 1 diabetes?
The pancreas no longer makes insulin and so the glucose cannot enter the muscle and other body cells, resulting in a rapid build up of glucose and ketones in the blood stream. If glucose cannot be used by the cells, the body breaks down fat as an alternative energy source. By-products of fat breakdown are chemical called ketones.

Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes generally occurs in people age 40 and older.
In some high-risk groups, it can occur in childhood.
In type 2 diabetes, the body cannot produce enough insulin or the insulin secreted in unable to do its job properly. The majority of diabetics, about 90%, suffer from this type of diabetes.
Causes and people at risk
The causes of type 2 diabetes are becoming better understood. A genetic predisposition, being overweight and a sedentary lifestyle contribute to the onset of type 2 diabetes. Aboriginals, Latino-Americans, Asians and people of African descent are more likely to develop the disease than other ethnic groups. It is now known that several genes are linked to type 2 diabetes.