Complications of diabetes

Complications of diabetes

Both forms of diabetes ultimately lead to high blood sugar levels, a
condition called hyperglycemia. Over a long period of time, hyperglycemia
damages the retina of the eye, the kidneys, the nerves, and the blood vessels.

• Damage to the retina from diabetes (diabetic retinopathy) is a leading
  cause of blindness.
  
  
  
  
• Damage to the kidneys from diabetes (diabetic nephropathy) is a leading
  cause of kidney failure.
  
  
  
  
• Damage to the nerves from diabetes (diabetic neuropathy) is a leading
  cause of foot wounds and ulcers, which frequently lead to foot and leg
  amputations.
  
  
  
  
• Damage to the nerves in the autonomic nervous system can lead to
  paralysis of the stomach (gastroparesis), chronic diarrhea, and an inability
  to control heart rate and blood pressure with posture changes.
  
  
  
  
• Diabetes accelerates atherosclerosis, or the formation of fatty plaques
  inside the arteries, which can lead to blockages or a clot (thrombus), which
  can then lead to heart attack, stroke, and decreased circulation in the arms
  and legs (peripheral vascular disease).
  
  
  
  
• Diabetes predisposes people to high blood pressure and high cholesterol
  and triglyceride levels. These independently and together with hyperglycemia
  increase the risk of heart disease, kidney disease, and other blood vessel
  complications.

In the short run, diabetes can contribute to a number of acute (short-lived)
medical problems.

• Many infections are associated with diabetes, and infections are
  frequently more dangerous in someone with diabetes because the body's normal
  ability to fight infections is impaired. To compound the problem, infections
  may worsen glucose control, which further delays recovery from infection.
  
  
  
  
• Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, occurs from time to time in most
  people with diabetes. It results from taking too much diabetes medication or
  insulin (sometimes called insulin reaction), missing a meal, doing more
  exercise than usual, drinking too much alcohol, or taking certain
  medications for other conditions. It is very important to recognize
  hypoglycemia and be prepared to treat it at all times. Headache, feeling
  dizzy, poor concentration, tremors of hands, and sweating are common
  symptoms of hypoglycemia. You can faint or have a seizure if blood sugar
  level gets too low.
  
  
  
  
• Diabetic ketoacidosis is a serious condition in which uncontrolled
  hyperglycemia (usually due to complete lack of insulin or a relative
  deficiency of insulin) over time creates a buildup in the blood of acidic
  waste products called ketones. High levels of ketones can be very harmful.
  This typically happens to people with type 1 diabetes who do not have good
  blood glucose control. Diabetic ketoacidosis can be precipitated by
  infection, stress, trauma, missing medications like insulin, or medical
  emergencies like stroke and heart attack.
  
  
  
  
• Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome is a serious condition in
  which the blood sugar level gets very high. The body tries to get rid of the
  excess blood sugar by eliminating it in the urine. This increases the amount
  of urine significantly and often leads to dehydration so severe that it can
  cause seizures, coma, even death. This syndrome typically occurs in people
  with type 2 diabetes who are not controlling their blood sugar levels or
  have become dehydrated or have stress, injury, stroke, or medications like
  steroids.
  http://www.emedicinehealth.com/diabetes/article_em.htm

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