Is Diabetes Life Threatening?

Diabetics are at increased risk for heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, infections and other potentially life-threatening diseases. High glucose levels wreak havoc on every cell and organ in the body. However, many diabetics can improve their quality and length of life significantly with proper diet, strict blood sugar monitoring and control, exercise, and medical care.

Types

• There are two types of diabetes mellitus. The less common type is type 1 diabetes, which is also called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes. The second type, and more common type, is type 2 diabetes.

Features

• Type 1 diabetics cannot produce enough insulin. The organ that produces insulin, the pancreas, is unable to perform its natural function. Insulin is necessary for controlling blood sugar (glucose) levels in the blood stream and directing it to the cells where it is needed. The cells begin to starve without glucose. Type 1 diabetics, therefore, must have insulin injections in order to survive.
  Type 2 diabetics may or may not produce much insulin. In some cases, the body produces sufficient insulin but simply does not metabolize it very well.

Effects

• Diabetes affects the entire body. Elevated glucose levels, fluctuation of glucose levels, and damage to cells contribute to overall health problems.
  The most serious, life-threatening effect is on the cardiovascular system. Extra sugar circulating in the bloodstream contributes to clogged arteries. If a diabetic is also over-weight, the risk for heart problems or stroke is even higher.
  Complications of both kinds of diabetes also include an eye disease called retinopathy (which can lead to blindness), kidney disease, and nerve damage.
  In addition, diabetics do not heal quickly and therefore have a much higher risk of infection, even from superficial cuts. If the diabetic has neuropathy, the risk of infection is very high because she may not discover a wound (on the bottom of the foot, for example) until infection has already set in. Gangrene is not a rare complication for diabetics.

Prevention/Solution

• Proper diet, exercise, medical checkups and often insulin or oral medication are essential for controlling diabetes and preventing complications associated with this disease. Some type 2 diabetics need insulin injections for only a short while if they are able to control their diabetes via diet and exercise.
  Diabetics should be vigilant about treating cuts, sores, and any other injury, which might become infected. In addition, diabetics should be familiar with symptoms of bladder infections and other common ailments diabetics get.

Considerations

• Although weight is not the only cause of type 2 diabetes, many diabetics show great improvement after losing weight. Because of the extra risks diabetics face, however, you should talk to your doctor before making changes in your diet and before starting an exercise program. You may need to get your heart checked out, and you may also need adjustments to your diet or your medication before beginning a new exercise regime.
  Although type 1 diabetes is sometimes called juvenile-onset diabetes, it can occur in adults too. Type 2 diabetes is still sometimes called adult-onset diabetes, although everyone knows now that it can occur at any age.