Chronic complications of diabetes gradually occur. This is a blood vessel and blood glucose disease. The small and large blood vessels are affected by diabetes. Then these damaged blood vessels may begin the destruction of the heart, nerves, kidneys and eyes.
Joint and foot difficulties are significant chronic complications of diabetes. Because of reduced blood flow in the body’s extremities along with nerve damage there is reduced sensation in the joints, feet and hands. This makes it more likely for these body areas to be prone to disease and damage. Not being able to feel pain in a normal way and foot ulcers are the result. If proper care is not given, infection and then amputation can be the result.
Eye problems surface as one chronic complication of diabetes. This is especially true if diabetes is untreated. Decreased vision and blindness can be one outcome from this disease. For people under 65 years old the leading cause of blindness that naturally occurs is diabetes. The retina of the eye becomes damaged due to nerves and blood vessels that have sustained damage from diabetes. This is called Diabetic Retinopathy. In addition, new capillaries can form inside the retina and cause blockage. This makes the vision weaker because of the changed blood flow. Permanent damage to vision is the result. If vision problems in a diabetic are diagnosed early enough, then preventive measures as well as treatment are available. Lowering cholesterol and blood pressure as well as keeping blood glucose in check will help prevent eye problems.
Out of balance blood sugar (glucose) damages the nervous system. This damage affects the extremities such as the arms, legs and hands. Symptoms include tingling or pain in these extremities. A sensation like buzzing might be felt. Numbness is common. The ability to walk may be lost if a person has this. Bladder control can be lost too. Erectile Dysfunction in men may be another of these chronic complications from diabetes.
Other chronic complications of diabetes include hypertension and heart disease. These can lead to a high risk for a heart attack, stroke or aneurysm. Again, the blood vessels play a part in these complications of diabetes. What happens is that the body tries to lower glucose (blood sugar) to its correct level. To achieve that the blood vessels have to hold more fluid. The increased fluid also increases the pressure in the blood vessels. Elevated blood pressure develops. The circulatory system weakens. If it is severe, the blood vessels can burst so that a diabetic will sustain a vascular stroke.
The chronic complications from diabetes don’t end there. Kidney disease, also known as nephropathy, is debilitating. It is the main reason that people in the U.S. are on dialysis. The kidneys filter blood. The kidneys’ blood vessels are gradually damaged. This is from the diabetic’s sugar in the blood that is filtered. This deterioration can cause kidney failure which may call for dialysis. Forty to fifty percent of diabetics develop kidney failure.