Diabetes is one of those chronic health problems that can snowball all too quickly, thanks to the large net this disease can cast over your health.
From head to toe — or vision loss to diabetic foot ulcers — the more than 38 million Americans who have diabetes are in the line of fire for some serious health complications. Thankfully, it’s possible to avoid these complications if you make the right choices.
Our team at CareOne Internal Medicine and Primary Care wants to applaud one choice you’ve already made — reading this blog. Education is important when you have a chronic and systemic disease like diabetes.
Since November is National Diabetes Month, we’re going to shine the spotlight on five common side effects of diabetes, and we’ll end with how you can protect yourself against them.
About half of people with diabetes will develop some degree of peripheral neuropathy, or nerve damage, especially in their lower limbs. This nerve damage develops thanks to high levels of glucose in your bloodstream, which can damage nerves and the blood vessels that service them.
As a result of this neuropathy, you can develop pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in your lower limbs. This nerve damage can also make you more vulnerable to diabetic foot ulcers. And if you think this is some distant threat, think again.
Diabetic foot ulcers occur in about one-third of diabetics. More concerning is the fact that half of these ulcers become infected, and of this number, 20% end in amputation.
People with diabetes are twice as likely to develop heart disease as people who don’t have diabetes. From life-threatening heart attack and stroke to high blood pressure and peripheral vascular disease, diabetes can have a significant impact on your cardiovascular health.
Your kidneys require a sufficient blood supply to function effectively, and diabetes can compromise this essential source. Many people with diabetes develop kidney disease as unchecked levels of blood sugar damage the blood vessels that service the kidneys, which can lead to kidney disease and failure.
When you have higher-than-normal levels of glucose in your blood, you also have higher-than-normal glucose levels in your saliva, which can attract bacteria. As well, you also produce less saliva to wash away bacteria.
As a result, people with diabetes often face gum disease and tooth loss as a common complication.
Diabetes is one of the leading drivers of vision loss for a few reasons. First, high blood sugar levels can damage the delicate blood vessels in your eyes, leading to damage in your optic nerve.
Additionally, people with diabetes are more prone to certain eye diseases, such as macular edema, glaucoma, and cataracts.
The best way to prevent many of these complications is through your ABCs:
Our experienced diabetes team can help on each of these fronts by ensuring you have access to the right resources, such as insulin therapy and/or blood pressure medications.
While these treatments are helpful, you also have to play your part in safeguarding your health by making some key lifestyle changes, namely diet and exercise. And we’re happy to create a nutrition and exercise plan that will help you avoid some of the complications we outlined above.
For comprehensive management of your diabetes and your overall health, look no further than CareOne Internal Medicine and Primary Care. To sit down with one of our experts, you can schedule an appointment at our office in Houston or Katy, Texas, today. We also offer telehealth appointments.
