Diabetes can be harmful when it is out of control. Too much sugar in the blood can damage nerves and blood vessels, which can cause different types of health problems.
But not everyone develops complications, and there are many steps that can be taken to avoid them. In addition to treatment, good hygiene practices can help control the disease and avoid other problems.
What complications can diabetes cause?
High blood sugar can affect different parts of the body.
- Eyes: Diabetes can increase the chance of vision problems, including blindness. It can lead to.
- Cataracts: The lens of the eye becomes cloudy.
- Glaucoma: Damage to the nerves that connect the eye to the brain, making it difficult to see clearly.
- Retinopathy: Changes in the retina at the back of the eye.
- Heart: Prolonged high blood sugar can damage blood vessels in the body, which increases the chance of heart disease and may even lead to a heart attack or stroke. People with high blood pressure and high cholesterol are more likely to develop this condition.
- Kidneys: Diabetes can also affect the blood vessels in the kidneys, causing them to not function properly. Long-term damage can cause the kidney blood vessels to stop working.
- Foot: High blood sugar can affect blood flow and damage nerves, which can cause cuts, scrapes, or sores to heal slowly. The foot may lose some of its sensation, suggesting the need to be aware of possible injuries. If the infection is severe, it may mean that a foot needs to be amputated.
- Nerves: High blood sugar damages nerves called diabetic neuropathy, which can be painful, tingling, or numb, especially in the foot.
- Skin: Diabetes can make patients more susceptible to fungal infections, itching, or brown or scaly patches.
- Erectile problems: Men with diabetes are at risk for sexual dysfunction because high blood sugar affects blood flow and damages the nerves that maintain an erection.
How can I reduce the risk of developing complications?
Good habits can go a long way toward preventing health problems caused by diabetes. Use the following instructions as part of your daily health care routine.
- Strict control of blood sugar: This is the best way to avoid developing complications from diabetes. Blood glucose levels should be kept within the following healthy ranges whenever possible.
- Pre-meal blood glucose 70-130 mg/dl;
- Post-meal 2-hour blood glucose less than 180mg/dl;
- Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level of approximately 7%.
- Watch your blood pressure and cholesterol: If your blood pressure and cholesterol values are too high, you are more likely to develop other health problems, such as heart disease. Try to keep your blood pressure below 140/90 mmHg and total cholesterol equal to or below 200 mg/dl.
- Get regular checkups: Your doctor will check your blood and urine, and run other tests to check for other problems. These tests are important because many diabetes complications do not have obvious signs.
- Don’t smoke: Smoking affects blood flow and raises blood pressure. If you need to stop smoking, your doctor will recommend the appropriate method.
- Protect your eyes: Get an eye exam once a year. Your doctor will look for signs of damage or disease.
- Check your feet daily: Check for cuts, breaks, abrasions, blisters, ingrown toenails, redness, or swelling. Wash and dry your feet carefully every day. Use lotion to avoid dry skin or dry, cracked heels. Wear shoes when walking on hot pavement or on the beach and socks and shoes in cold weather. Test the water temperature before bathing to avoid burning your feet. Trim your toenails in a timely manner.
- Caring for your skin: Keep your skin clean and dry. Use talcum powder on skin folds such as armpits. Do not shower or soak in excessively hot water, or use dry soap or body wash. Moisturize your skin with body lotion and hand cream. Stay warm during the cold winter months. If you feel too dry, use a humidifier in your bedroom.
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