Are You A Diabetic? Do You Know The Complications?

Can you save yourself? Are you one of the 24 million Americans with diabetes? Do you know the complications that diabetes causes? Are you armed with enough information about this disease to keep your diabetes under control? Are you aware of the complications of diabetes so you can do whatever it takes to stop the effects of this disease in your body?

You probably know the symptoms of diabetes and what causes diabetes, and how to treat diabetes, but no one ever talks about the complications of diabetes.

I want to address the complications of diabetes because some of these complications are so horrendous and devastating, you need to do everything you can to stop this disease in its tracks. You cannot let diabetes get a hold on you to the point you become a victim of these severe, disastrous, life threatening disfiguring complications!

It behooves you to do whatever it takes to stop the progress of diabetes and there are steps you can take to do so. First, however, you must know the complications. Here goes:

* Diabetes, heart disease and stroke go hand in hand.
* Diabetic neuropathies or nerve damage caused by diabetes are common.
* Diabetic retinopathy or eye disease is prevalent with diabetes.
* Diabetes causes erectile dysfunction.
* Feet problems, including amputation, are a major complication of diabetes.
* Hypoglycemia or low blood glucose causes severe distress with diabetics.
* A major problem with diabetics is kidney failure.
* Sexual and urological problems is one more complication of diabetes.
* Another consideration is stomach nerve damage called gastroparesis.

Let me give you an idea of what each of these complications does to your body when diabetes is left untreated.

* Diabetes affects your heart. It can cause heart disease, a heart attack, heart failure or a stroke. If you have diabetes, you are at least twice as likely as someone who does not have diabetes to have heart disease or a stroke. People with diabetes also tend to develop heart disease or have strokes at an earlier age than other people. Your odds of having a heart attack or a stroke are greatly increased if you have diabetes.

* Diabetic neuropathies or nerve damage is a severe problem caused by diabetes. The types are peripheral, autonomic, proximal, or focal neuropathy. Each of these affects different part of the body.

* Peripheral neuropathy affects legs, feet, and arms. There is severe pain, tingling, and numbness. Pain is worse at night. It can cause foot disfigurement and even amputation.

* Autonomic neuropathy affects heart, lungs, eyes, kidneys and digestive system. This form of neuropathy affects regulation of blood pressure, blood glucose levels, causes kidney disease and kidney failure, and affects nerves to the heart. It can cause difficulty with internal organs, causing problems with digestion, respiratory function, urination, sexual response, and vision.

* Proximal neuropathy affects legs, hips, buttocks, and thighs. Proximal neuropathy causes weakness in the legs and the inability to go from a sitting to a standing position without help. Treatment for weakness or pain is usually needed. The length of the recovery period varies, depending on the type of nerve damage.

* Last but not least, focal neuropathy affects eyes, ears, pelvis, legs, etc. It causes the inability to focus the eye, double vision, aching behind one eye, paralysis on one side of the face, called Bells Palsy, severe pain in the lower back or pelvis, pain in the front of a thigh, pain in the chest, stomach, or side, pain on the outside of the shin or inside of the foot, chest or abdominal pain that is sometimes mistaken for heart disease, a heart attack, or appendicitis.

Each and every one of these neuropathies are severe and can be devastating! You should do everything in your power to do what it takes to stop the progression of this disease in your body. Steps you can take include: watch your diet, eat healthy foods, eat small meals, check your blood sugar levels several times per day, watch your weight, exercise, and exercise some more! Get control of your blood sugar levels and keep yourself from becoming a victim of this disease.

For more information on diabetes, the symptoms and the treatments, check out the American Diabetic Association.