Diabetes is a serious medical condition that can have a wide range of effects on the body. It is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and narrowing of blood vessels (atherosclerosis). Diabetes can affect the eyes, heart, nerves, feet and kidneys. It is important to understand how diabetes affects the body in order to follow a treatment plan and stay as healthy as possible.
Controlling blood sugar levels is the best way to protect your eyes, heart, nerves, feet and kidneys from diabetes-related health problems. This is true for all people with diabetes, regardless of whether they have kidney damage or not. Speak to your healthcare provider about what you should do to control your blood sugar levels. If you have type 1 diabetes, your body has attacked your pancreas and destroyed the cells that produce insulin.
This can lead to hypoglycemia, which is common in people with type 1 diabetes and can also occur in some people with type 2 diabetes who take insulin or medications such as sulfonylureas. Type 1 diabetes can also cause a hair loss condition called alopecia areata. In addition to controlling blood sugar levels, it is important to include a wide variety of nutritious and healthy foods in your diet and avoid eating sugary foods as snacks. There are many basic principles of prevention that are shared in common when it comes to complications caused by diabetes.
The feet of a person with diabetes are at risk of damage when the blood supply to large and small blood vessels is reduced. People who are overweight or obese are more likely to develop prediabetes, type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes. If you have a family history of prediabetes, type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes, you are at greater risk of developing these conditions yourself. If you or your child or teenager have symptoms of diabetes, it is important to see your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Having diabetes may not necessarily increase your risk of contracting COVID-19, but if you do contract the virus, you are more likely to experience more serious complications. Scientists believe that genetics may play a role in the development of type 1 diabetes. Oral diabetes medications such as metformin (Glumetza, Fortamet and others) may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. Early detection and treatment can help reduce or prevent complications from developing.
Diabetic ketoacidosis occurs in patients with type 2 diabetes, especially in older people, and usually occurs when patients are sick or stressed. Many oral diabetes medications can be used in combination with insulin to achieve better blood glucose control. Scientists don't have firm answers yet but there seems to be a correlation between hearing loss and diabetes.
