Long Term Complications of Diabetes

Diabetes is often easy to ignore especially in the early stages. The body will appear to work well. But what actually happens is that the excess glucose in the blood keeps eroding the inner lining of the blood vessel threatening major organs like heart, nerves, eyes and kidneys. Though you may not feel the effects right away, you will eventually feel it.

Compared with people who don't have diabetes people with diabetes are

Two to four times more likely to die of heart attack
Two to four times more likely to have a stroke
Likely to become blind
Likely to suffer kidney failure
Likely to have gangrene of the feet

If the blood glucose is maintained close to normal you can reduce the risks of complications. Diabetes can cause both short term and long term complications.

The long term complications of diabetes include:

Coronary artery disease
Stroke
Peripheral arterial disease
Nerve Damage (Neuropathy)
Kidney damage ( Nephropathy)
Eye damage ( Retinopathy)
Increased risk of infection

Coronary artery disease

Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death in people with diabetes. Diabetes causes narrowing of the blood vessels by a process called atherosclerosis. When the blood vessels to the heart get narrowed down the blood flow is obstructed and it causes chest pain and heart attack. It is usually treated with aspirin, cholesterol lowering drugs and blood pressure drugs.

Stroke

Stroke is another long term complication of diabetes which occurs when the blood supply to apart of your brain is interrupted or severely reduced and the brain tissue is deprived of oxygen and nutrients. Within a few minutes to few hours, brain cells begin to die. The interruption can be from a clogged or blocked blood vessel (ischemic stroke) or from a leaking or ruptured blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke). Ischemic stroke is more common.

Peripheral arterial disease

With peripheral arterial disease the arteries supplying the limbs, more commonly the legs, becomes clogged or partially blocked due to atherosclerosis. It causes pain, cramping in the legs while walking. The treatment includes control of cholesterol and high blood pressure and surgery to bypass obstructed vessels.

Nerve damage (Neuropathy)

High levels of blood glucose can damage the delicate nerves. Excess glucose weakens walls of the tiny blood vessels that nourish the nerves.

Damage to the sensory nerves may leave you unable to perceive pain, warmth, coolness and texture.
Damage of the autonomic nerve can increase the heart rate and in men can interfere with their ability to have erection.
Damage of the motor nerves causes weakness of the muscles.

The symptoms include tingling feeling, numbness, burning pain, stabbing and aching pain, a crawling sensation. It is treated with pain relievers, Capsaicin, acupuncture, biofeedback and relaxation exercises.

Kidney Damage (Nephropathy)

Diabetes damages the filtering system of the kidneys. Up to 30% of the diabetics eventually develop kidney disease called nephropathy. The longer you have diabetes, the higher your risk of kidney damage. The signs and symptoms of this long term complication of diabetes include

Swelling of the ankles, feet and hands
Shortness of breath
High blood pressure
Poor appetite
Metallic taste

It is treated with drugs called ACE inhibitors, low protein diet, dialysis and in final stages kidney transplant.

Eye Damage (Retinopathy)

High blood glucose affects the tiny blood vessels in retina of the eye. In fact among the long term complications of diabetes, they are the first to be affected. Almost every one with Type I diabetes and 60% of those with Type II diabetes have some sort of eye damage. The signs and symptoms of this long term complication of diabetes include

Tiny specks floating in your vision
Blurred vision
Dark spot in the centre of the vision
Flashes of light
Poor night vision
Blindness

There are two types - non-proliferative which is more common and the proliferative types. The eye damage is treated with laser procedures and surgery.

Increased risk of infections

High blood glucose impairs the immune system putting you at a higher risk of infection. Your gums, lungs, skin, feet, bladder and genitals are the common infection sites. The signs and symptoms of this long term complication of diabetes depend on the site of infection.

Gums- redness and bleeding
Bladder - frequent urination and burning sensation while passing urine
Vagina- itching
Foot- redness and pus collection

They are usually treated with antibiotics. In severe infection of the foot, debridement is done.

DiabetesCondition.com provides information on diabetes management, diabetes treatment, diabetes supplies, glucose meters, diabetic testing supplies, self-help, identification and prevention of immediate and long-term diabetes complications, and other information to help with the prevention and management of diabetes.

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