If it’s untreated or poorly treated, diabetes can cause serious complications, such as eye, kidney, and nerve damage (see Figure, below). Nearly all complications develop from having high blood glucose (sugar) levels over many years. These problems threaten people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Vulnerability increases the longer you’ve had the disease and the higher your blood glucose and other markers for diabetes have been.
| Figure: Complications of diabetes If it’s not adequately treated, diabetes can cause serious complications. Nearly all of these complications develop from having high blood glucose levels over many years. Fortunately, people who achieve good blood sugar control through diet, exercise, or medication can greatly reduce their risk of developing these long-term complications. |
How high blood sugar achieves its nasty ends isn’t fully understood, but the answer seems to involve its long-term effects on the body’s small blood vessels and on the nervous system. Over time, high glucose levels change the walls of small blood vessels, causing them to thicken and leak. The vessels may eventually clog, impeding blood flow to vital organs.
The more positive news is that, with good self-management, you can enjoy a healthy life and minimize your chances of developing complications. Here are five tips for avoiding complications:
1. Keep blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible (therapy should be adjusted if HbA1c level is 7% or higher).
2. Keep blood pressure under 130/80 mm Hg.
3. Aim to keep LDL (unhealthy) cholesterol levels under 100 mg/dl, HDL (healthy) cholesterol levels over 40 mg/dl, and triglyceride levels under 150 mg/dl.
4. Practice good foot care by examine your feet every day for any sores, cuts, scratches, breaks in the skin, or swollen areas. Also keep the skin on your feet and your toe nails in good condition.
5. Schedule regular visits with your doctor to assess your overall health and the presence of any complications, and to check for ways to reduce your risk of complications.
What has your experience been with diabetes complications?
Nearly 21 million Americans suffer from diabetes, and as anyone who has been affected by the disorder knows, itis about much more than a statistic: it means a new way of life. Diabetes: A plan for living is a special report from Harvard Medical School that will help you learn how to better understand and manage your diabetes, including type 1 and type 2, as well as other variations of the disease. This report will show you that it’s not just possible to live with diabetes; it’s possible to live well.
Are you Living With Diabetes? Connect with others with similar health concerns and issues. Click here to join the group.
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Comments: 4
I am trying to change our eating habits to keep my levels down and even excercising more, but nothing seems to be working.
First, look into getting a glucose meter. Some pharmacies give them away. Some have them inexpensively. Check your sugar when you wake up and 2 hours after meals. Check sugar 1-2 times per day at varying times to help you understand what foods have what affect on you. Normal range is 70-130.
Second, watch carbs. This doesn't mean stop eating them, because you need carbs. You need 130g of carbs each day for your brain to be able to function properly. Try to distribute carbs evenly throughout the day. A woman can eat 45-60 carbs per meal.
Third, exercise helps bring your sugar down. Exercise doesn't necessarily mean go work out in a gym for 2 hours a day everyday. Start small, like walking 15 minutes 3 times a week. If you have a high sugar reading, go for a walk and recheck your sugar. Often you can decrease your sugar quite a bit.
OH, stress raises sugar. Be mindful of yourself and give yourself a break. (easier said than done)
Those are my 2 cents. :)
One way to test for having diabetes is to get urine test strips from a pharmacy. No prescription is needed.
A person collects urine in a cup, dips the strip into the urine, and the strip turns different colors. The colors tell if sugar is in the urine, and how much. It is possible to have mild diabetes and for the strip not to pick it up. But if the strip shows sugar, that requires a doctor's attention.