Managing diabetes and living a healthy lifestyle can be a challenge at times. But the rewards are well worth the effort. If diabetes is not controlled, meaning your blood sugar levels remain high despite taking medication, you may experience symptoms such as frequent urination and increased thirst. If this condition persists, it can damage many of your body's organ systems.
Simply put, uncontrolled diabetes is a condition that can silently affect every organ in your body, from head to toe. Let's take a look at how.
Effects on the heart and blood vessels
Heart disease and blood vessel disease are common problems for many people who don't control their diabetes. You are at least twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke than someone without diabetes.
Damage to blood vessels or nerves can cause problems in your feet. Sometimes even a small wound won't heal, festering, and becoming more serious. Very rarely, a part of the foot or toe may need to be amputated.
Symptoms: You may not have any symptoms until you have a heart attack or stroke. Problems with the large blood vessels in your legs can cause leg cramps, changes in skin color, and numbness in your legs.
The good news: Many studies have shown that taking the right medications, diet, and exercise can prevent these problems or stop them from getting worse if they already exist.
Effects on the eyes
Diabetes is the leading cause of new vision loss among adults. Diabetes can lead to several eye diseases that can even lead to blindness if left untreated.
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
- Damage to the delicate blood vessels of the eye due to diabetes (Diabetic Retinopathy)
| Possible eye-related symptoms | |
|---|---|
| Vision problems or sudden vision loss | Blurred vision |
| Difficulty reading books | Seeing rings or dark spots around lights |
| Sensitivity to sunlight and bright light | Difficulty seeing at night |
Sometimes, even if the damage to the eyes is severe, there may be no symptoms. Therefore, it is absolutely important to see an ophthalmologist at least once a year for a complete eye exam.
The good news: Studies have shown that 90% of blindness caused by diabetes can be prevented with regular eye exams and timely treatment. So if you notice any changes in your eyes, seek medical advice immediately.
Effects on the kidneys
Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure in adults. Nearly half of newly diagnosed kidney patients are diabetic.
Symptoms: Early kidney disease caused by diabetes usually does not show any symptoms. As the disease progresses, the legs and feet may swell.
The good news: Medications that lower blood sugar and blood pressure (even if you don't have high blood pressure) can reduce the risk of kidney failure by 33%.
Effects on the nervous system (Diabetic Neuropathy)
High blood sugar levels over time can damage your nerves. This damage can affect up to 70% of people with diabetes. It usually starts in the hands and feet. But over time, it can affect other parts of the body, such as the intestines, bladder, genitals, and heart.
If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor immediately:
- Numbness, burning, pain, or loss of feeling in the hands or feet
- Digestive system problems, such as stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Frequent urinary tract infections or inability to completely empty the bladder
- Difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection during sexual intercourse
- Dizziness or fainting
If there is nerve damage, keeping blood sugar levels close to normal can help control or slow its progression.
Several main types of nerve damage
- Peripheral Diabetic Neuropathy: This can cause burning, pain, or loss of sensation in the feet, especially the fingertips. It can also affect the hands later.
- Autonomic Neuropathy: This affects the nerves that control your internal organs. Symptoms can include sexual dysfunction, digestive problems (gastroparesis), bladder fullness, dizziness, and low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
- Diabetic Amyotrophy: This is a very rare condition that causes severe pain and inflammation in the hip and thigh area, followed by muscle weakness in the thigh.
The good news: There are now many treatments available to help manage this pain. Your doctor may recommend some painkillers, topical creams, and even nerve stimulation devices like TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation).
Teeth, gums and skin problems
People with diabetes are at higher risk of developing gum disease. Gums that are red, swollen, and bleed easily can be a symptom. Also, things like yeast infections on the skin can be a warning sign that your blood sugar levels are too high.
| Problem | Symptoms |
|---|---|
| Teeth and gums | Gums become red, swollen, and bleed easily. |
| Skin problems | Itching in moist areas such as the lower abdomen, armpits, and between the toes. Itching or pain in the vagina. Brown spots on the skin (acanthosis nigricans). |
The good news: These problems can be avoided if you control your blood sugar levels, see a dentist regularly, and brush your teeth daily.
What to do in an emergency?
If your blood sugar level remains very high for a long time, it can lead to very serious conditions such as coma or even death. If you have symptoms such as extreme tiredness, weight loss, excessive hunger, excessive thirst, and frequent urination , call your doctor immediately. If the condition is severe, go to the Emergency Department (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
Some serious health problems can occur without any symptoms. For example, kidney disease, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Therefore, regular medical checkups are essential.
Take-Home Message
- Diabetes is a disease that can affect the entire body, so don't take it lightly.
- The best and most important thing to protect yourself from all these complications is to control your blood sugar levels.
- Take your medication exactly as your doctor prescribes. Don't skip any doses.
- A healthy diet, regular exercise, and weight control are definitely important.
- Get a complete medical checkup (especially eyes, kidneys, and feet) at least once a year.
- If you develop any new symptoms, don't panic and talk to your doctor right away.
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