Have You Looked Into How Does Diabetes Affect Your Body In The Long Term

Have You Looked Into How Does Diabetes Affect Your Body In The Long Term

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If you have recently been diagnosed with diabetes then you are probably concerned as to, how does diabetes affect your body. The long term effects of the disease can be very serious but that does not need to worry you as they can all be avoided. Good management of diabetes and testing for side effects can prevent all associated complications.

There are two types of the disorder type 1 and type 2. The former usually develops in childhood or in young adults. It is indicated by the body being unable to produce insulin and so sufferers have to take a form of insulin to control the symptoms. Type 2 normally develops in later life. This can usually be controlled by eating a specific diet low in sugar as insulin is being produced, just not in large enough quantities.

The symptoms of both types are mostly the same but the onset is likely to be quicker with type 1. Signs of the onset of diabetes include; increased thirst, fatigue, intense hunger, weight loss, blurred vision, mood swings, frequent urination and increased susceptibility to infections.

The long term affects on the body are often to do with damage to blood vessels. Problems with the cardio vascular system are common and rates of heart disease among diabetics are very high. This is because the high levels of sugar in the blood cause problems with blood vessels and they become blocked. This also can cause problems with the limbs as circulation becomes worse and nerve damage causes numbness. Some diabetics eventually have to have lower limb amputations.

You may find that diabetes affects your vision. This happens when the vessels which carry blood to the retina become leaky. They grown weaker and weaker over time and this can result in a disorder called retinopathy which can cause blindness. There are treatments available for this so it is recommended by most doctors that diabetics have regular eye tests. If you are older you should also watch out for glaucoma and cataracts.

Kidney function can also be affected by the disease. This can eventually lead to total kidney failure and the person will require transfusions and eventually a transplant. The kidney is affected because the blood vessels which carry blood to and from it start to leak and eventually stop working altogether.

All of the problems associated with diabetes can be prevented if spotted at an early stage. For example, it is easy to test for kidney problems as protein is excreted in the urine when the kidney is not functioning properly. This is easy to test for and it is recommended that diabetics have their urine screened for proteins annually so that the kidney can be helped if problems are developing. Similarly, eye problems can be detected early and treated. The most important factor is to keep blood sugar levels as low as possible to stop the damage of blood vessels and nerves which lead to further complications.

For diabetics wondering how does diabetes affect your body, the answers could be quite alarming as some of the complications are serious. However, all the problems can be prevented by keeping the blood sugar under control and prevented with careful medical attention.

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Looking for more information on how diabetes affect your body ? Get the inside scoop on blood sugar chart in our exclusive blood sugar levels chart overview.



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