Diabetes UNDone: Skip the Complications

What do you think is the most serious complication to type 2 diabetes? High blood sugars have both short-term and long-term complications. Short term complications may include fatigue, headaches, difficulty concentrating, increased thirst, frequent urination and blurry vision. Uncontrolled blood sugars can lead to medical emergencies such as diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome. Left untreated, these conditions can cause unconsciousness and even death.

But for most people with pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes, the long-term complications are even more dangerous. Many diabetics don’t even realize that they have a problem until the disease is far progressed. That’s why you shouldn’t wait for short-term symptoms before you get tested for diabetes.

Long-term complications can be devastating. Chronically high blood sugars cause silent damage to the body for years and even decades before the first symptom is felt. Let’s take a look at 8 long-term complications of diabetes.

KIDNEY FAILURE: The kidneys are very important organs. They filter out toxic substances from the blood and excrete them through the urine. Over time, chronically high blood sugars damage the delicate filters of the kidneys. As the kidneys lose their filtering ability, toxic wastes build up in the bloodstream. People in kidney failure must use a dialysis machine several times a week to filter the blood externally. Diabetes is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease and failure. 26 million Americans suffer from chronic kidney disease. 30% of type 1 diabetics and 30-40% of type 2 diabetics will eventually develop kidney failure or end-stage kidney disease requiring dialysis.

VISION LOSS AND BLINDNESS: Did you know that diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in American adults? Diabetics are almost twice as likely to develop glaucoma, an eye condition which damages the optic nerve, resulting in vision loss. Diabetics are 60% more likely to develop cataracts which cause a cloudy lens. Diabetic retinopathy occurs when high blood sugars damage the tiny vessels in the back of the eye. This can cause vision loss and even blindness.

INFECTIONS: High blood sugars weaken the immune system and increase the risk of infection. People with diabetes are constantly at an increased risk for foot and skin infections, urinary tract infections, yeast infections, surgical site infections, etc.

WOUNDS, SORES AND AMPUTATIONS: Every 30 seconds, someone loses a lower limb as a result of diabetes. For a diabetic, even a small cut or sore on the foot or elsewhere can be dangerous. Diabetes decreases blood flow, which makes it more difficult for wounds to heal and increases the risk of ulcers and infection. To make matters worse, many diabetics suffer from nerve damage, which diminishes their ability to feel pain and notice an injury.

SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION: Men with diabetes are at an increased risk for erectile dysfunction, especially as they age. Diabetic men typically begin experiencing erectile dysfunction 10-15 years earlier than most other men. H

igh blood sugars cause damage to the blood vessels and nerves that control erection.

NERVE DAMAGE: About half the people with diabetes will develop a nerve disorder called diabetic neuropathy. High blood sugars damage the blood vessels that supply the nerves, and can lead to pain, tingling, and eventually diminished sensation. Complications of diabetic neuropathy include lower limb sores and amputations, urinary tract infections, urinary incontinence, digestive problems, low blood pressure, and sexual dysfunction.

INTESTINAL PROBLEMS: High blood sugars can damage the vagus nerve, which results in delayed stomach emptying, also known as gastroparesis. This can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating, acid reflux, loss of appetite, and decreased nutrient absorption.

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE: According to the American Heart Association, at least 65% of people with diabetes will die prematurely from some form of heart disease or stroke. That’s a sad statistic. Heart disease and stroke, collectively known as cardiovascular disease, are the leading causes of death and debility in diabetics.

People with diabetes are up to 4X more likely to have a heart attack of stroke. Even more alarming is the fact that this risk exists even among pre-diabetics. Prediabetes more than doubles the risk for heart disease, whether or not it ever progresses to full blown diabetes (italics supplied). Don’t let the name fool you; this condition is dangerous.

So back to our original quiz–now that we’ve taken a look at all the complications arising from type 2 diabetes, what do you think if the most dangerous? When I usually lecture on diabetes, I frequently ask my audience this question. And they usually respond with kidney disease, neuropathy or amputations. These conditions can certainly be devastating, but in my opinion, the most dangerous complication associated with diabetes is cardiovascular disease.

When we fight against diabetes, we are fighting to protect the heart. Remember, 65% of diabetics will die prematurely from a heart attack or stroke. Pre-diabetes alone more than doubles the risk of heart disease. The obvious conclusion is that diabetes isn’t just about managing your blood sugars. It’s about your heart!

The good news is that the lifestyle strategies found in Diabetes UNdone will greatly reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease as well as all diabetes related complications. As we’ve discussed, diabetes complications cause damage all throughout the body. But it’s important to remember that these complications are like the tip of an iceberg. Underneath the symptoms that can be seen or felt there is a hidden disease process that most likely has been progressing for years or even decades.