Diabetic Complications

Sometimes a complication of diabetes may give a clue to the presence of the disease. The principle complications or sequel associated with diabetes are retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy and arteriosclerosis. Whether these are the unavoidable consequences of the diabetic state over time or whether they may be influenced by controlling the diabetes through aggressive monitoring, treatment and life-style management, including diet and supplements, remains a central topic.

Specifically it found that lowering and maintaining more constant blood sugar levels reduced the risk of eye disease by 76%, kidney disease by 50%, nerve disease by 60% and cardiovascular disease by 35%. These complications are responsible for a reduction in the life expectancy of a newly diagnosed insulin dependent diabetic by about one-third.

Neuropathy (nerve disease) : Diabetic neuropathies are one of the most frequent complications of long-term diabetes. The femoral nerve is frequently involved nerve giving rise to symptoms in the legs and feet. Pain is the prime symptom and be likely to get worse at night when the person is at rest. Paraesthesias are a common complement of the pain. Symptoms may include slowed digestion, impaired heart function, decreased or absent perspiration, severe oedema, carpal tunnel syndrome, irregular bouts of diarrhea and constipation, bladder atony, urinary and faecal incontinence and impotence, erectile dysfunction. Neuropathies generally get better with the better control of the diabetes. Severe or chronic changes may need a long period to show maximum improvement.

Retinopathy (eye disease) : Changes occurring in the eye which are characteristic of diabetes involve the hardening, narrowing, bulging, hemorrhaging or severing of the veins and capillaries of the retina, sometime may lead to loss of vision. Symptoms in the earlier stages may include reduced vision, changes in the size of objects, contraction of the visual field or photophobia. It typically takes between 10-13 years for diabetic retinopathy.

Arteriosclerosis (vessel disease) : The diabetic condition is allied with earlier and more severe vascular alterations than normally arise at a given age. Atherosclerosis can be precisely described as the end stage of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, as the vast majority of diabetics will die from an atherosclerotic event.

Nephropathy (kidney disease) : Nephropathy is less frequent than retinopathy and occurs in long standing diabetes. Nevertheless, diabetes is the foremost cause of end-stage renal disease in the world. So, a diabetes patient needs not only the blood sugar levels monitoring but also periodic monitoring of kidney function like blood urea nitrogen, uric acid, creatinine and creatinine clearance.

Hypoglycemia : Hypoglycemia occurs due to administration of too much insulin or oral hypoglycaemic drugs. This condition is commonly referred to as insulin shock. The first symptom is mild hunger, swiftly followed by sweating, dizziness, mental confusion, palpitations and eventual loss of consciousness.

Digestive Disorders : ulcers, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, gallstones, diverticulitis and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

Oral Complications : Periodontal disease which can lead to tooth loss.

Infections : diabetic patients have an increased risk of some infections like lower extremity infections, asymptomatic bacteriuria, surgical wounds infections, re-activation tuberculosis and group B streptococcal infection.

Complications of Pregnancy

Ketoacidosis: Another acute complication more expected to occur in the IDDM is ketoacidosis, an acute life-threatening event caused by deficiency of insulin leading to a build-up of keto acids and ultimately in a diabetic coma.