HOW DOES DIABETES AFFECT YOUR BODY?

 

Having a deep understanding of how diabetes can affect your body will equip you with the knowledge necessary for taking good care of your body so that you can prevent the disease from developing into complications if you happen to be diabetic.

Over 382 million people all over the world have diabetes, which is a metabolic disorder that affects blood sugar levels. There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 and 2. Type 1 diabetes, which is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes, is responsible for destroying the cells producing insulin in the pancreas. A type 1 diabetic needs insulin regularly to stay healthy. Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, allows the production of insulin, but their cells do not use the insulin to break down blood glucose levels. The majority of diabetic people have type 2 diabetes. Almost 90percent of people with type 2 diabetes are obese or overweight.

Symptoms of diabetes

These are some known symptoms of diabetes

• Fatigue
• Urinating frequently
• Blurred vision
• Increased thirst
• Pain or tingling sensation in the legs, hands or feet

           The effect of diabetes on the heart

If you are diabetic or recently diagnosed to be diabetic, watch out for these symptoms:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Coronary heart disease (risk of heart attacks) caused by high blood pressure and high cholesterol

Can diabetes cause strokes?

Medically, high blood pressure and cholesterol can raise the risk of strokes.

How diabetes affects the kidneys

Diabetic nephropathy is a kidney disease caused by long-standing diabetes, which involves damage to the capillaries in the kidneys. There are no symptoms in the early stages, but in the advanced stage, you can have protein in your urine (albuminuria). Albuminuria does not happen normally except you are pregnant, doing strenuous exercise, having an infection or high fever.

                  How diabetes affects nerves

Diabetic neuropathy is the name given to the nerve disease caused by diabetes. Nerves are essential parts of the human body because they are involved in most of the functions carried out by the body. However, watch out for these symptoms of diabetic neuropathy:

• Lack of arousal in the penis or clitoris
• Slow stomach/bowel emptying
• Tingling sensation or numbness in the feet or hands
• Too much sweating

Effects of diabetes on the eyes

Diabetic retinopathy occurs when there is swelling and leaking in the back of the eye. High blood pressure can also worsen diabetic retinopathy. Listed below are the known symptoms of the eye disease:

• Loss of vision
• Blurred vision
• Reduction in night vision
• Unexpected changes in vision
• Seeing dark patches or spots
• Floaters in patient’s vision
• Distorted vision

If not properly treated, this condition can degenerate into total blindness or retinal detachment.

How diabetes affects digestion

The metabolic problems caused by diabetes may include but are not limited to:

• Nausea
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Digestive issues caused by type 2 diabetes medications