Complications of Uncontrolled Diabetes
By Sara Butler
Diabetes causes 80,000 death per year in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that makes diabetes the seventh-leading cause of death for Americans. What's really devastating about this disease is that it's preventable and controllable, but many people have no clue that they've even got it. There are several complications that can arise from going undiagnosed or mismanaging your diabetes if you do have it. Here are a few of the complications you should be on the lookout for if you're concerned you may have diabetes or you're not controlling your diabetes well enough.
Digestive Issues
Diabetics are at a high risk of nerve damage, something that can impact the digestive system. If your digestives system is damaged by uncontrolled blood sugar levels, then you may experience:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Indigestion
- Diarrhea
Don't write off any digestive issues you are experiencing. Make a trusted healthcare provider in your life aware of these symptoms.
Atrophied Limbs
Excess sugar in the bloodstream can damage the capillaries, the small blood vessels that deliver oxygenated blood to the tissues all over your body. This can cause nerve damage that is irreversible, placing stress on the limbs. This is why you can experience numbness, pain, burning, and tingling in your limbs with diabetes. If left untreated, this can lead to a complete loss of feeling that sometimes leads to amputation.
Symptoms of Depression
Low or high blood sugar can be behind feelings of anxiety and panic and low sugar can have a big impact on how well you sleep at night. This creates feelings of exhaustion very similar to those experienced by people with chronic depression. It's not uncommon to have both depression and diabetes, but it's a combination that goes undiagnosed far too often. Don't sweep any feelings you have under the rug -- get help.
Loss of Vision
Diabetes can also damage the blood vessels in the eyes, causing blurred vision and even blindness. It also increases your chances of developing cataracts and glaucoma, both of which can impact your vision. Make sure to have your vision tested each year so the eye doctor can look for signs of a problem.
Kidney and Heart Disease
Heart disease and kidney disease rates are high in people with diabetes. That's because diabetes impacts the blood supply to your kidneys and heart, increasing your risk of kidney failure and heart attack and stroke.
Diabetes is serious, so make sure you know your risk factors and get a diagnosis if you suspect you may have issues with your blood sugar.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Riverside, Calif.