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What Are the Dangers of Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when the body can't break down glucose properly. This results in blood sugar levels that are too high and sometimes can drop too low. Since your body relies on glucose for energy, there are many dangerous side effects to uncontrolled blood sugar levels. Knowing the dangers of diabetes and how to avoid them is an important step in treating the disease.

  1. Coronary Artery Disease

    • Coronary artery disease is the most common heart disease and the leading cause of death in the United States for women and men. Since coronary arteries are the blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to your heart, blockage caused by diabetes can cause chest pain and a heart attack.

    Stroke

    • Diabetics of any age can suffer a stroke when the blood supply to the brain is blocked. When brain tissue doesn't get enough oxygen and nutrients, brain cells die.

    Vascular Disease

    • Vascular disease affects smaller blood vessels as well as arteries. Vascular disease in small blood vessels can affect your eyes, legs, feet and kidneys, while vascular disease in the arteries affects your heart and can cause a stroke.

    Blindness

    • Diabetic retinopathy is a group of eye problems diabetics can develop including damage to the blood vessels in the retina, cataracts that cloud the eye lens and glaucoma that increases fluid pressure in the eye and causes loss of vision.

    Neuropathy

    • High blood sugar levels can lower the blood supply and oxygen that nerves need and damage them. The longer you're diabetic, the higher the risk of neuropathy. You could have trouble digesting your food and lose control of your bladder or bowels. You might feel pain, tingling or numbness in your feet, legs, hands or arms. Your legs could feel weak as muscle is lost. You can become dizzy or faint and feel nauseous. Males can suffer from erectile dysfunction, and females could experience vaginal dryness.

    Kidney Problems

    • Kidneys regulate fluids and filter out toxins in the body. When diabetes damages the part of the kidneys that remove waste from your body, your blood has to be filtered through a device called a dialysis machine several times a week to keep toxins from spreading through your body.

    Skin Disorders

    • When diabetes interferes with circulation, it's hard for sores on skin to heal. You need to check for dry, cracked skin, blisters, cuts, scratches, redness, tenderness and ingrown nails. If infection sets in, your limbs may have to be amputated.

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