Originally published August 19 2005
Diabetes causes dangerous complications, doctors say
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Diabetes has many complications, such as heart disease, blindness, stroke, kidney disease and amputation.
Diabetes, often referred to as hyperglycemia by physicians, can be deadly.
As discovered in part one of this four part series, diabetes is one of the leading causes of death in Alabama and Jackson County.
The diabetic's body either does not produce enough insulin or it is not properly used within the body to break down glucose.
Foods that we eat eventually turn into glucose.
Without adequate or properly used insulin, that glucose builds in the bloodstream.
If left untreated, or uncontrolled diabetes can lead to devastating complications says the Alabama Department of Public Health and the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta.
Complications that result from uncontrolled diabetes include heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, blindness, kidney disease, nervous system disease, amputations, dental disease, complications during pregnancy and a host of others.
Adults with diabetes are more likely than those without diabetes to have the heart disease risk factors of high blood pressure, low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), high levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high levels of triglycerides.
Ischemic heart disease (insufficient blood and oxygen to the heart) is the leading cause of death in the United States.
Individuals with diabetes are at a particularly high risk.
In contrast to people without diabetes, heart disease in individuals with diabetes appears earlier in life and is often more fatal.
The probability of a stroke increases dramatically in relation to the number of risk factors for stroke.
A high LDL and hypertension (high blood pressure) are risk factors associated with both health issues.Individuals with diabetes are 25 times more likely to become blind.
Each year, 40,000 new cases of blindness occur with Americans with diabetes.
Most of the blindness is caused by retinopathy: damage to the retina (the light sensitive area at the back of the eye) and the blood vessels that serve it.
As the disease progresses, vessels weaken and balloon forming microaneurysms.
The small swellings may break and bleed into nearby tissue.
Approximately 60 percent of type II diabetics have damaged retinas after having the disease for 20 years.
Diabetic neuropathy or damage to nerve fibers can cause a variety of symptoms including diminished reflexes, loss of sensation, intermittent episodes of pain and circulatory problems.
Early signs of diabetic neuropathy include tingling and numbness in the hands and feet.
Other early signs include muscular weakness and impotence.
Peripheral neuropathy is a common complication that affects 60 to 70 percent of diabetics.
Peripheral neuropathy is the nerve damage affecting the feet and legs.
It is described as inflammation or degeneration of the outward nerves.
Diabetic foot ulcers are common in patients.
The peripheral neuropathy results in loss of sensation in the feet causing pressure points that may ulcerate.
Inadequate blood supply and the infection involving legs and feet may and often result in inflammation of the bone and gangrene.
Damaged bloody vessels can eventually lead to kidney failure or end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant just to survive.
Poorly controlled diabetes with its abnormal swings from high to low blood sugar produce mood changes and feelings of irritability, anxiety, depression and euphoria.
Your physician is there to help, be sure to tell them when any of these physical problems or others that could be related to diabetes exist.
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