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Diabetes Complications

Most of the diabetes complications are linked to increased blood glucose levels. Diabetes complications can range from short-term conditions (such as hypoglycemia) to serious long term life-threatening complications including irreversible damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves and in some cases adult acne. It becomes very important to recognize short-term diabetes complications and treat these diabetes complications early so as to prevent the occurrence of serious long-term diabetes complications.

Short-term diabetes complications include:

• Hypoglycemia, which means lower than normal amount of sugar (glucose) in the blood. It is the most common complication among all the diabetes complications. It generally occurs during treatment and considered to be a side effect of diabetes medications. [2]
  
  
• Ketoacidosis may occur. If the body is starved of glucose it looks for other sources of energy including fat and protein. Ketones are a side effect of protein metabolism and can be dangerous if they accumulate in the body. Accumulation is known as ketoacidosis.

Serious long-term diabetes complications include:[1]

• Kidney damage (diabetic nephropathy) leading to renal failure. This situation requires regular dialysis or kidney transplant.
  
  
• Damage to the retina (retinopathy). This leads to blood vessel damage in the retina resulting in blindness. That is why diabetic patients are advised to have yearly eye exams in order to prevent this diabetes complication. [3]
  
  
• Heart disease and Stroke: Diabetic patients are 2-4 times more likely to have heart disease than persons without diabetes.
  
  
• Nerve damage of several kinds
  
  
• Microvascular damage, which may cause erectile dysfunction in men, leading to impotence
  
  
• Diabetic foot ulcers, poor wound healing, causing gangrene, which ultimately can require amputation. Good foot hygiene and monitoring can help avoid serious diabetes complications. [3]
  

References:

1. American Diabetes Association. Type 2 Diabetes Complications

2. National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. National Institutes of Health. Complications of Diabetes.

3. Mayo Clinic (2006). 10 Ways to Avoid Diabetes Complications. Diabetes care

Dr. John Aquino

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