Be Aware of Diabetes Complications

“Whatever I do, I will get diabetes complications.” 

That’s not true. You can help yourself! Blood glucose levels are the main cause of this. So if you can keep it as close to normal as possible, it will stop the complications from occurring, or slow down those that are already present. Even if it is in your genes, controlling blood glucose can delay the onset of complications.

People with diabetes can live long and healthy lives without complications - THE KEY TO THIS IS THE SAME FOR ALL COMPLICATIONS—

CONTROL BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS AND LOOK FOR COMPLICATIONS AT AN EARLY STAGE.

Too much blood glucose can affect the blood vessels and the nerves and this can create problems in other organs. 

Be alert to these signs of diabetic complications:

Vision problems – blurring, spotting or flashes    

Feeling exhausted without a good reason    

Discomfort in the leg after walking   

Numbness or tingling in hands or feet    

  

Having chest pain with exertion    

Cuts or sores that don’t heal fast ,or are infected for a long time

Constant headaches which may be due to high blood pressure 

Diabetic complications usually develop after many years of high blood glucose levels. However, sometimes the signs of Type 2 diabetes are not easily noticeable and a person may develop symptoms of complications before being diagnosed for diabetes. 

Diabetes and the heart 

Most cardio-vascular complications related to diabetes are due to blockages caused by narrowing or clogging of large and small blood vessels or due to slow blood flow.

The blood supply to the heart, brain, tissues and organs is limited. Blood cannot reach parts of the body .This results in circulation problems and leads to eye and kidney disease. 

Too much glucose can speed up the normal process of narrowing of arteries (atherosclerosis). This decreases blood flow to the heart and brain. 

If the blood supply to the heart slows for some time, it can cause a chest pain called angina.( Not a disease but a warning signal).

A complete stoppage of blood to the heart is a heart attack.

When blood flow to the brain is cut off, it can cause a stroke.

Blockages in the arteries of the legs can cause leg pain while walking, a condition known as intermittent claudication.

Hypertension can also play a part in cardio- vascular disease. The heart works harder to pump blood to parts of the body thus damaging lining of arteries. If untreated for long, this can form fatty tissue that narrows or blocks arteries. It is common in Type 2 Diabetes mellitus.

Hypertension in Type 1 diabetes mellitus can be a pointer for kidney disease.

Hypertension by itself can damage the small blood vessels and capillaries especially in the eyes or kidneys. Hypertension and diabetes together increases cardiac and kidney risk considerably.

Prevent  Cardio-vascular Diseases- 

—Control diabetes and bring down lipid levels, lose weight, keep blood glucose levels low, increase physical activity, eat low- fat, high- fiber food; stop smoking, exercise regularly, and avoid high blood pressure. All these keep the blood vessels clear and healthy.

—Monitor blood glucose levels regularly.

Diabetes and the eye 

Uncontrolled diabetes over a period of time can damage the blood vessels that supply blood to the retina of the eye. Retinopathy is a disease of the retina – the light -sensing region of the inner eye that projects images you see. The central portion of the retina, the macula, which helps us to see fine details, swells. Vision is impaired and blindness results. Retinopathy is common among people with Type 1 Diabetes mellitus but people with long term Type 2 Diabetes mellitus can also get it.

Early detection can slow or stop this from interfering with your vision and only a doctor can detect it in the early stages.

There are 2 major forms of retinopathy:

• Non -proliferative - Blood vessels close or weaken and leak blood, fluid, and fat into the eye. Vision is blurred but does not cause blindness unless it leaks into the area near the optic nerve. 

• Proliferative – New blood vessels, which are  fragile and break easily due to hypertension during exercise or when asleep, grow out of control  in the retina. Blood can leak into the fluid filled portion of the eye in front of the retina blocking light and impairing vision. Scar tissue can also form in the retina which shrink and tear the layers of retina apart, damaging vision. Images look as if they are flapping in the breeze.  

(Advanced stage)

Glaucoma or high pressure in the eyes occurs more often in people with diabetes but can be treated if detected early. 

VISIT YOUR OPHTHALMOLOGIST IF YOU NOTICE:

—Visual problems such as spots, floaters, or cobwebs in your field of vision, blurring or distortion, blind spots, eye pain or persistent redness.

—Have trouble reading books or traffic signals or difficulty distinguishing familiar objects.

Prevention:

—Annual eye examination through dilation.

—Keep blood glucose levels low.

 Do not postpone eye tests.