Diabetes Awareness Month: - The Effects of Diabetes on Your Body

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Image by The American Diabetes from Days of Year.Com

So far, we've studied the following areas of Diabetes in previously posted below:
Diabetes Awareness Month: November, 2019
Diabetes Awareness Month: Universal Symbol
Diabetes Awareness Month: Who is at Risk?
We learned information from each so we could further our knowledge of this disease.

Now, we will take a look at how Diabetes, once you've been diagnosed, can effect your body. The complications that can occur after you are diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes may have devastating effects.

Below are some of the major complications of Diabetes and its effect of different parts of your body:

Heart Disease & Stroke

**Your A1C level is the key**. Over time, the higher your A1C level is, the more likelihood that damage to your nerves and blood vessels that control heart will occur. This, in turn, can cause heart disease and stroke. The American Diabetes Association reports that the longer you have Diabetes, the more likely your chances are higher of developing heart disease (1).

As I reported previously, smoking, higher cholesterol levels, and high blood pressure all contribute to your blood vessel and nerve damage. All these factors work against you even if you don't have Diabetes. But with Diabetes, your chances of developing heart problems and having a stroke increase. The safest thing you can do is to try to control these factors, then make sure you get an annual checkup.

As I also reported, my A1C number was 288. That is ridiculously high and didn't know it. I felt all the symptoms of diabetes, but ignored them. I was previously diagnosed with heart irregularities, so there was no excuse for me not to monitor any slight change in my body.

After researching my family history, I found numerous instances of heart disease related deaths. In all instances, the contributing factors were high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. That's why I have never smoked. Get your A1C blood test today if you suspect you may have Diabetes.

Eye Disease

This is perhaps one of the serious effects of diabetes - eye disease. You may not know it, but one of the eye disease problems caused by Diabetes is glaucoma. And the longer you have Diabetes the higher your chances of contracting it. The risk of getting glaucoma also increases the older you are. There are other eye problems that can develop also.

Kidney Disease

When kidney disease develop due to Diabetes, it usually progresses slowly over many years. Once your kidneys are damaged, they can't function correctly like they normally should in your body. Now your blood can't be properly filtered to handle your built-up body waste. Kidney disease can, in turn, cause other problems (2).

I've seen first hand the effects of kidney damage due to diabetes. Several of my family members needed dialysis, with some having since passed away. Do you now see how Diabetes is a circular disease whose effects progress and flows to other parts of your body until your body can no longer function properly?

Dental Disease

A major concern for people with Diabetes is dental problems. When you have diabetes, your dental needs increase. You have increased risk of infections from gum disease. Since having Diabetes can affect your ability to fight Infections, you can get gingivitis and periodontal disease, which affects not only your gums, but the surrounding bones that support your teeth (3).

One dental condition that affects a majority of people with Diabetes is dry mouth. This can occur also in individuals who take several medications in their daily regimen. But once you have Diabetes, then dry mouth is more common. Dry mouth then causes other dental problems. Having Diabetes and taking several medications each day, my doctor prescribed Biotene. I utilize the full line of products.

Foot Problems and Nerve Damage

Foot problems caused by damage to the nerves are common for individuals with Diabetes. You feet are easily damaged due to the lack of blood circulation and nerve damage. You can have a variety of problems relating to areas in and around the feet. Skin for example, will be dry. You can also develop bunions, ingrown toenails, a corn or callus, and infections from injuries.

Have you ever injured your foot and didn't know it? Well, I've done that numerous times. That's because it may have been related to nerve damage. In that case, it's called "diabetic nerve damage." Individuals with diabetic nerve damage may not experience cold, pain, or heat. This is due to the lack of blood circulation. The main prevention is to take extra care of your feet.

Foot problems and nerve damage are topics that affects me daily. I have to wear two pair of socks, no matter the season. Sometimes, my feet will feel numb for no reason. Before I was diagnosed, I broke my toe as I stumbled over a chair. I didn't feel anything. The only reason I knew something was seriously wrong was one day I noticed my foot was swollen.

If you or loved ones have been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, please help yourself or them control this disease. The effects are lifelong if not properly treated. Death may even result. The purpose for me trying to understand the problems diabetes can cause was to expose specific areas of the body that were most affected. Now that I know, I will take extra precaution, especially with my feet so that I won't cause any more nerve damage.

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Thanks,
@justclickindiva

Happy rest of the week everyone with whatever you are working on.


SOURCES:
(1) American Diabetes Association: Complications;
(2) Health Information Center of theThe National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases;
(3) Diabetes and Oral Health from Healthline
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Thanks Chris, your article is sadly so true. I have lost friends to this insidious disease. Early diagnosis is critical, as the disease may be controlled by a change in diet and increased exercise.

Perhaps our western diets are the cause? Type 2 diabetes became a problem about the same time as supermarkets became fairly widespread, so may just be a case of our cravings to eat our favourite foods instead of eating seasonally.

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Hi Ian. You area correct. Cheap food produce to feed the Masses.

Have you seen the short documentary FOOD, INC. It's a chilling realization of what we are putting in our bodies.

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Yep, I recall watching a documentary re food a while back.

I worked as an Information Officer at the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries / missing F word / Forestry - yeah, we got restructured a few times! - so I read a lot re food since I was the one responsible for filing the information.

Just seems to me to be a correlation between ease-of-access to food through supermarkets from the 1950s on and food-realted diseases in western nations. For example, the "obesity epidemic" is not just about fats or sugars, it's about the sheer quantity of what gets eaten, rather than the quality.

We're consuming into our bodies more energy than what our bodies use; thankfully, our skin can handle that at a stretch! The problem is the effect that is having on the beauty that lies within: our internal organs.

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My husband Scott has diabetes. It is such a pain to deal with sometimes. Low card this, sugar-free that, prick, testing, worry, stress.... it is such a frustrating thing to watch him have to go through it all. Thank you for bringing this subject up.
Ren

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Hi Ren. Thanks for stopping by and reading my post. Appreciate it. Yes, it is frustrating for family members who have to watch you go through it and can't help, but just be supportive in the journey. This is exactly what my hubby said to me. I hate complaining because it brings down everyone else. I monitor my A1C level twice a day.

But the worse thing about mine is that I have arthritis in my knees, shoulders, back, neck, so exercise is extremely painful. It's a circular disease where everything affects everything else. Good luck with your hubby's monitoring.

Have a good day, and take care.

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