The unspoken impact of diabetes

Even though insulin, which is vital to the treatment of diabetes, has been around since 1921 there is still no cure for diabetes. While this is common knowledge, there are a number of side effects and impacts which are not often discussed in relation to diabetic sufferers. Diabetes itself can cause a number of serious illnesses and medical conditions which include:-

Hypoglycaemia

This is a coma type condition which many diabetes sufferers will experience throughout their lives. As the sugar levels of the body continue to fall this can often bring on unconsciousness with many sufferers slipping into diabetic comas.

Cardiovascular disease

While heart disease is one of the biggest killers around the world many people may not be aware that diabetes can often lead to cardiovascular disease in later life. In fact some researchers have quoted the increased risk as double that of a “normal” member of the worldwide population.

Chronic kidney disease

While chronic kidney disease can also be linked to a number of other medical and lifestyle conditions it is well known that diabetes can in the longer term bring on the condition. In simple terms the worsening condition of the kidneys leads to a fall in rates of filtration with which leads to excessive loss of protein or red blood cells through urine.

Damage to the retina

This is perhaps the more shocking of research figures available regarding the impact which diabetes has on sufferers. It is well documented that diabetes can and commonly does affect the retina of the eye and has been known to induce blindness in a great number of diabetics. A staggering 80% of all patients who have suffered diabetes for 10 years or more have encountered some form of reduction in their visual capacity. However, researchers suggest that 90% of such cases could and should be flagged before they cause irreparable damage to the eye.

Severe nerve damage

It has been shown that diabetes can impact greatly upon the circulation of blood around the body for those suffering the condition. If left untreated, diabetes will induce serious long-term nerve damage which can also lead to a number of other serious medical conditions.

Impotence

This is also another area of diabetes which is not commonly discussed due to a number of factors including embarrassment. In line with the severe nerve damage mentioned above, a reduction in the quality of blood circulation can lead to erectile dysfunction which can have a serious impact upon a suffers lifestyle.

Inability to heal quickly

Again linked to the blood circulation issue, it is not uncommon for diabetics to experience slow healing of wounds especially on the feet. This can and has led to gangrene and common instances of amputation if left untreated.

While many people only associate diabetes with low sugar levels and the potential to bring on diabetic comas, there are many more aspects which need to be considered. The number of knock-on medical complications which can occur are ever-growing and if the conditions is left untreated this could ultimately lead to death.

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