|
Diabetes is a disease that can be prevented in most cases and treated successfully in the rest. But improper management of this disease can cause serious complications in many different areas of the body. If you have diabetes or are at risk for developing it, here is a head-to-toe list of its potential complications, and suggestions to prevent them from happening to you. Your brain: Having diabetes increases your risk of stroke. People with diabetes are 2 to 4 times more likely to suffer a stroke, which could lead to paralysis, brain damage and death. You can help prevent stroke by controlling your blood glucose and following these heart-smart diet and fitness tips. Your eyes: High blood sugar can lead to blurred vision, and eventually to diabetic retinopathy (eye disease), which can lead to blindness. However, studies show that monitoring and keeping your blood sugar and blood pressure levels within their normal ranges can delay or prevent eye problems. Work with your health care provider to develop a plan for keeping your levels under control, and undergo a thorough dilated eye exam once a year. Your teeth: High blood sugar levels can cause gum disease, and gum disease can cause high blood sugar. This vicious circle of dental complications from diabetes can be prevented. In addition to keeping blood sugar levels under control, brush often, floss daily, and get regular dental checkups about two times per year. Your heart: People with diabetes are more likely to have heart and blood vessel problems. If you also smoke, have high blood pressure or have high cholesterol, you are at an even greater risk. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), heart and blood vessel problems are the main causes of sickness and death for people with diabetes. Controlling blood glucose levels, abstaining from tobacco and monitoring blood pressure and cholesterol levels can decrease your risk for these complications. Your lungs: Death from pneumonia or influenza complications is more likely in people who have diabetes. It is recommended that diabetics get vaccinated for pneumonia as advised by their physician and receive yearly flu shots to decrease their chances of getting sick in the first place. Your stomach and bowels: Uncontrolled diabetes and/or high blood sugar levels can lead to nerve damage in the digestive system. This can lead to a number of problems including a condition called gastro-paresis, which delays the emptying of the stomach contents. Symptoms of nerve damage in the digestive tract can include trouble swallowing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and bloating. Continued › |
|
SparkPeople advertisers help keep the site free! Learn more
Health & Wellness Articles › Special ConcernsPreventing Diabetes ComplicationsProtect Your Body from Head-to-Toe-- By Liza Barnes, Health EducatorSparkPeople advertisers help keep the site free! Learn more
Related Content
Stay in Touch With SparkPeople
About The Author
Liza Barnes
Liza has two bachelor's degrees: one in health promotion and education and a second in nursing. A registered nurse and mother, regular exercise and cooking are top priorities for her. See all of Liza's articles. |
Summer's not over yet! There's still plenty of time to tone up and bust out that swimsuit for one last hurrah. Get results in just 15 minutes per week with this plan--no excuses!
Read More
Reverse Grip Triceps Pulldown on Cable Cross Machine
A reverse grip adds challenge to this exercise.
A reverse grip adds challenge to this exercise.
Get a personalized diet and fitness plan, great newsletters, post to our message boards, and even your own personal SparkPage!
Join Now For Free!
Join Now For Free!
Member Comments
herbals..OTC treatment, what can offer a speedy response..thanks.
.pd - 8/16/2012 8:52:58 AM
the lady mary - 7/23/2011 12:47:42 PM
And by the way, there's some debate over whether type 1 can be prevented. It depends on what causes it, and it depends on how knowledgeable the doctor is who sees the patient who is developing it. The version of Type 1 where your islet cells up and die on you after years of Type 2 most certainly *can* be prevented--and the autoimmune version may even be preventable, they're working on that, but the knowledge they've uncovered so far is not widespread yet.
THAT IS NOT TO SAY that anyone is blaming you if you're autoimmune Type 1. Of course you're not to blame. But who says Type 2s can be blamed either? First off they're advised to follow a diet that led directly TO their diabetes. Second off the experts continue to give them bad advice that does NOTHING to lower their blood sugar. You'd go diabetic too. This country has undergone a fifty-year-long enforced malnutrition experiment and here you go, it hasn't turned out so hot, has it?
Three words for those trying to lower their blood sugar: LOWER YOUR CARBS. - 7/23/2011 12:56:08 AM