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Signs & Symptoms of Advanced Diabetes

Diabetes is one of the major causes of death in the world. Management of diabetes is of utmost importance, because, apart from the short-term complications, a diabetic patient is prone to many other serious diseases over time, which affects almost every part of the body. The long-term complications are: heart and blood vessel diseases, kidney disease, diseases of the nerves and diseases of the eyes.
That's why it is important to recognize and deal with the signs and symptoms of advanced diabetes.

  1. Nephropathy

    • This is a condition where the kidney loses its ability to function properly. It is characterized by high levels of protein in the urine, which may lead to renal failure. Symptoms may include swelling of the legs, loss of appetite and fatigue.

    Neuropathy

    • A common sign of advanced diabetes is neuropathy, symptoms of which include numbness, pain or tingling in the feet or lower legs. It also affects the nerves that control the cardiovascular system, the digestive tract, bladder function and sexual organs.

    Retinopathy

    • Retinopathy is a condition in diabetic patients that causes progressive damage to the retina. The symptoms include small dot and blot hemorrhages, which cause dimness of vision. The more advanced stage is characterized by hemorrhage and retinal detachment, which can lead to total blindness.

    Cardiovascular Complications

    • The symptoms include intermittent claudication (a severe cramp-like pain experienced mostly in the calves or lower legs), gangrene, impotence, ischemic heart disease and myocardial infarction, which may be silent at times.

    Hypoglycemia

    • Hypoglycemia occurs when too much insulin is administered or the patient has skipped a meal. Symptoms include hunger, dizziness, sweating, palpitations, mental confusion and eventual loss of consciousness.

    Other Symptoms

    • Other symptoms of advanced diabetes, include ketoacidosis, which is a complication caused by too little or no insulin intake. The symptoms include increased urine formation, vomiting, weight loss and coma. Pregnant women with diabetes are susceptible to miscarriages and abortions. Diabetic patients are also prone to infections like respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections and skin infections.

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