Introduction To Diabetes And Diabetic Diet For Diabetics

Over time, diabetes can sometimes lead to complications. Fortunately, research has shown that many of these complications can be prevented or delayed. Keeping your blood sugar and blood pressure as close to normal as possible may help prevent or delay eye, kidney, nerve, and heart and blood vessel damage caused by diabetes. Though it isn't easy to hear about these complications, you need to know about early signs and detection so they can be found and treated early.

Aside from acute glucose level abnormalities, the main risks to health are the characteristic long-term complications. These include cardiovascular disease (doubled risk), chronic renal failure (the main cause of dialysis in developed world adults), retinal damage (which can lead to blindness and is the most significant cause of adult blindness in the non-elderly in the developed world), nerve damage (of several kinds), micro vascular damage (including erectile dysfunction (impotence) and poor healing which can lead to gangrene and even amputation -- the leading cause of non-traumatic amputation in developed world adults).

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is an acute, dangerous complication and is always a medical emergency. On presentation at hospital, the patient in DKA is typically dehydrated and breathing both fast and deeply. Abdominal pain is common and may be severe. The level of consciousness is normal until late in the process, when lethargy (dulled or reduced level of alertness or consciousness) may progress to coma. The ketoacidosis can become severe enough to cause hypotension and shock. Prompt proper treatment usually results in full recovery, though death can result from inadequate treatment, delayed treatment or from a variety of complications. It is much more common in type 1 diabetes than type 2, but can still occur in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Nonketotic Hyperosmolar Coma: While not always progressing to coma, this hyperosmolar nonketotic state (HNS) is another acute problem associated with diabetes mellitus. It has many symptoms in common with DKA, but a different cause, and requires different treatment. In anyone with very high blood glucose levels (usually considered to be above 300 mg/dl or 16 mmol/l), water will be osmotically driven out of cells into the blood. The kidneys will also be "dumping" glucose into the urine, resulting in concomitant loss of water, causing an increase in blood osmolality. If the fluid is not replaced (by mouth or intravenously), the osmotic effect of high glucose levels combined with the loss of water will eventually result in such a high serum osmolality (dehydration). The body's cells may become progressively dehydrated as water is drawn out from them and excreted. Electrolyte imbalances are also common. This combination of changes, especially if prolonged, will result in symptoms of lethargy (dulled or reduced level of alertness or consciousness) and may progress to coma. As with DKA urgent medical treatment is necessary, especially volume replacement. This is the diabetic coma which more commonly occurs in type 2 diabetics.

Next article: Type 1 Diabetes And Depression - Increased Risk For Diabetes Complications

Followed by:

Eye Conditions Related To Diabetes - Retinopathy, Cataracts And Reduced Vision (Glaucoma)

Diabetes Complications - Kidney Problems (Diabetic Nephropathy)

Foot Conditions Related To Diabetes - Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy And Diabetic Foot Ulcer

Cardiovascular Conditions Related To Diabetes - Heart Disease, Stroke, And Peripheral Vascular Problems

Lipohypertrophy Caused By Insulin Injections

Erectile Dysfunction In Diabetics

Autonomic Neuropathy In Diabetics