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Diabetes care, to a large degree, is minimizing and preventing complications. Serious long term complications of diabetes such as heart disease, kidney disease, neuropathy, eye problems, peripheral vascular disease and others can cause serious and permanent damage. Diabetes sufferers need to be vigilant and close medical supervision is mandatory to prevent these problems from occurring or getting out of control. Heart disease: This is the most frequently observed complication of diabetes. Heart disease is the leading cause of death associated with the disease. Chronic high blood sugar causes narrowing of the arteries, higher levels of triglycerides, lower levels of good (HDL) cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart attack. Adults with diabetes have heart disease rates about 2 times higher than those who do not. Kidney disease and kidney failure: When kidney disease occurs, the kidneys stop filtering waste and excess water from the blood. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease and this complication of diabetes often ends in kidney failure. When kidney failure occurs, a persons only options for survival are dialysis or kidney transplant. Vision problems: The most common complications of diabetes involving vision are cataracts and glaucoma. However, diabetic retinopathy can occur which is the most serious complication. This complication, caused by high blood sugar, causes damage to the tiny blood vessels that supply blood to the retina. The vessels swell and leak liquid into the retina, causing blurred vision and sometimes blindness. Nerve damage: Approximately two thirds of all people with diabetes eventually develop nerve problems, or neuropathy. The most common symptom of nerve damage is numbness or pain in the feet and legs. This can eventually lead to some degree of disability. Severe nerve damage can lead to amputation of limbs. Infections: Your ability to fight infection is diminished when you have diabetes. Typical areas of infection are bladder, kidneys, gums, feet, and skin. Vaginal infections are common in women with diabetes. Having high blood sugar causes bacteria to grow and infections can develop much faster. Sexual problems: Sexual complications of diabetes are related to the nerve damage that the disease causes. Men may have a problem getting and maintaining an erection or with ejaculation. Women may have problems with vaginal lubrication. Foot problems: Because of the numbness caused by nerve damage people with diabetes may suffer foot injuries. Foot ulcers are common and perhaps the most serious problem. These can be difficult to heal and in extreme cases amputation may be required. Seeking immediate medical help with foot ulcers is very important. The causes of long term complications of diabetes are still not fully understood. Predictions can't be made as to who will develop these complications and who will not. They are however, most likely to develop in a person who has had the disease for a long time. Knowing what they are is extremely important because they sometimes occur before before the disease is even diagnosed.
Article Source: http://www.philvault.com
The author, John Richmond, has researched the complications of diabetes and has written several other articles about diabetes as well. To read more about the disease please go to www.YourDiabetesInfo.com
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