Complications of Diabetes

Major Complications of Diabetes 

In terms of diabetes complications, there are general two categories: chronic complications, which build up over time, and acute complications, which can happen suddenly and at any time.  

Chronic Complications 

Chronic complications of diabetes are long-term health issues that develop over time and that have the potential to last for life. Many of these complications can lead to other damaging health conditions. Types of complications that fall into this category are as follows:  

• Vision Problems: When vision problems develop as a result of diabetes, doctors refer to it as “diabetic retinopathy.” Retinopathy is the leading cause of preventable blindness and is characterized by blurred vision or black or gray specs or strings in one’s vision. Typically detected during routine eye exams, diabetic retinopathy is easily treatable.  
• Foot Problems: Foot problems are a major concern for diabetics, as raised blood sugar levels can damage circulation and lead to loss of sensation in the feet. As the nerves become more damaged, cuts and sores on the feet may take longer to heal and, therefore, more susceptible to infection. If an infection is allowed to fester, amputation may become necessary. For this reason, it is crucial that you let your doctor know if you have any cuts or sores on your feet that do not heal in a timely fashion.  
• Nerve Damage: Complications of high blood sugar levels can cause nerve damage, or neuropathy. Neuropathy makes it difficult for the nerves to carry messages from the brain to other parts of the body, which can affect everything from how you see, feel, hear and move.  

• Gum Disease: When too much sugar accumulates in the blood, it can carry over to the saliva and cause a build-up of sugar in the mouth. Too much sugar in the saliva triggers the production of acids, which attack teeth enamel and the gums. If your gums become red, swollen or more prone to infection, it is likely a complication of unmanaged diabetes.  
• Kidney Damage: When diabetes is left untreated, the kidneys may struggle to clear excess waste and fluids from the body. This can eventually lead to an excessive build-up of blood sugar and increase blood pressure, both of which can cause damage to the kidneys. Diabetic kidney disease is otherwise called diabetic nephropathy.  
• Sexual Problems: In both men and women, diabetes can lead to issues with sexual performance. For women, it can damage the nerves and blood vessels that allow blood to flow to their sexual organs. When the blood flow becomes restricted, a woman may lose sensation in the vaginal region. Diabetes can also cause frequent urinary tract infections and thrush, both of which may make intercourse uncomfortable or downright painful.  

For men, diabetes can also restrict the amount of blood flow to the sexual organs, leading to difficult with getting aroused. In extreme cases, men with diabetes develop erectile dysfunction and become impotent.  

• Heart Attack or Stroke: If blood sugar levels remain high for too long, damage to the blood vessels may occur. Too much damage may eventually lead to heart attack or stroke.  
• Related Conditions: Diabetes often increases individuals’ risk of other, serious health conditions, including some cancers. Unfortunately, some cancer treatments make it difficult for persons to control their blood sugar levels, thereby exacerbating the original condition.  

Acute Complications 

Acute complications can develop suddenly and may be either short or long-term. Types of acute diabetes complications are as follows:  

• Hypers: Hypers occurs when your blood sugar levels are too high, thereby putting you at risk of arterial damage, nerve damage and other long-term complications.  
• Hypos: Hypos occurs when your blood sugar levels are too low, which can result in difficulty concentration, blurred vision, slurred speech, confused thinking, drowsiness and numbness. If allowed to continue, hypoglycemia can starve the brain of glucose, which can lead to coma, seizures and, in rare cases, death.  
• Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State: HHS is brought on by very high blood sugar levels and severe dehydration. It is a life-threatening emergency that only occurs in people with type 2 diabetes.  

• Diabetic Ketoacidosis: DKA is also a life-threatening emergency characterized by a build-up of ketone that results from a lack of insulin and high blood sugar levels.  

Why diabetes complications arise  

Though the body relies on sugar for energy, too much sugar in the blood stream can cause serious harm to your blood vessels. If your blood vessels sustain considerable damage, they will not work properly, and if they do not work properly, blood cannot travel to the parts of the body where it is needed. When this happens, your nerves stop working properly, and you may lose feeling to certain parts of your body. As nerves begin to fail, it triggers a domino effect, causing additional failure throughout the body. This is why severely diabetic persons eventually develop more severe and often life-threatening health complications.