The complications of diabetes usually occur due to poor control of the disease, which causes an exaggerated increase in blood sugar for a long time, causing injuries throughout the body including eyes, kidneys, blood vessels, heart and nerves.
However, complications of diabetes can be easily avoided with proper diet, physical activity, and the use of oral antidiabetics or insulin prescribed by a physician. Here's how to get the right treatment and avoid these complications.
1. Diabetic foot
Diabetic foot is one of the most frequent complications of diabetes and is characterized by skin sores and lack of sensitivity in the foot due to injuries to the blood vessels and nerves, and in very serious cases amputation of the affected limb may be necessary.
To treat this problem it is necessary to make dressings at the medical post and it is important to wash and dry the feet daily and apply a moisturizing cream, especially on the heels. See more on how to identify and treat diabetic foot.
2. Injury to the kidneys
Diabetic nephropathy is a disorder in the blood vessels of the kidneys that leads to difficulties in the filtration of blood, leading to kidney failure and the need for hemodialysis, which involves the replacement of kidney function by a machine.
A sign that indicates the occurrence of nephropathy is the presence of albumin in the urine, and the greater the amount of albumin in the urine, the more severe is the state of nephropathy.
3. Eye problems
If diabetes is not well controlled, there may be:
- Cataracts in which an opacity forms in the lens of the eye, leaving the vision blurred;
- Glaucoma that is the injury of the optic nerve, being able to lead to the loss of the visual field;
- Macular edema in which deposition and accumulation of fluids and proteins occurs in the macula of the eye, which is the central region of the retina, making it thicker and swollen;
- Diabetic retinopathy in which there is damage to the blood vessels of the retina of the eyes, which can cause permanent blindness. Learn more at: Diabetic Retinopathy.
If the patient feels blurred or blurred vision should go to the ophthalmologist and once diabetic retinopathy is detected, its treatment can be done through laser photocoagulation, surgeries or intraocular injections.
4. Diabetic neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy is the progressive degeneration of the body's nerves that causes decreased sensitivity in parts of the body such as the feet, resulting in diabetic foot or burning sensation, cold or tingling in the affected limbs. Here's how to treat diabetic neuropathy.
5. Heart problems
When diabetes is uncontrolled there is an increased risk of developing myocardial infarction, high blood pressure or even having a stroke.
In addition to these complications may arise:
- Peripheral vascular disease in which the arteries of the legs and feet undergo obstruction or occlusion, leading to narrowing and hardening of the arteries;
- Impotence;
- Periodontal disease which is an inflammation of the gum which, if left untreated, can lead to tooth loss;
- Infections, because sugar leaves the body's defenses weaker facilitating the appearance of various diseases.
Thus, systematic preventive exams and rapid access to treatment are considered relevant for the prevention of these complications of diabetes.
Complications of gestational diabetes
Complications of gestational diabetes occur during pregnancy and may be:
- Excessive growth of the fetus that can result in labor complications;
- Diabetes development in the future ;
- Higher risk of miscarriage or dying soon after;
- Little blood sugar or other disease in the newborn, because after delivery the baby no longer receives glucose from the mother;
To prevent these complications, it is important to detect the disease early by conducting various tests of blood sugar and urine, and this is done in regular surveillance visits throughout pregnancy.
