6 Side Effects Of Diabetes That Can Harm Your Health

Nov 03, 2023 By Nancy Miller

Diabetes is a common disorder that can affect anyone at any age. Besides having this severe disease, there are some additional complications a diabetic patient may face. You must know these side effects of diabetes to prevent yourself or others in any way possible.

These effects can severely alter the health conditions and can be lethal. If you or some others are diabetic patients, you must know about these complications. So, we have explained the six side effects for your convenience.

6 Unexpected Side Effects Of Diabetes

Diabetes has two main complications that come with time: chronic complications and acute complications. Chronic includes all the complications other than sugar. However, acute complications include the things about sugar and insulin.

There are also side effects of diabetes in males and females that result in complications with the genital organs. However, the following are the six side effects you must know.

Eye Problem

Diabetes can affect your eyes in several ways and cause eye complications called diabetic retinopathy. If the blood sugar level and blood pressure are high consistently, it will severely damage the blood vessels. Some blood vessels supply blood to the retina. But when the vessels are damaged, these get blocked, and the retina can't get the blood.

In this condition, you won't be able to see properly and lose your sight. Among these side effects of diabetes, battery is the most complicated situation. In retinopathy, you won't be able to see anything properly, and it will have an impact on your life and career as well. So, it is necessary to keep your sugar level and blood pressure accurate with a healthy diet and care.

Kidney Problem

High sugar levels and blood pressure have an impact on the kidney that severely damages it. This diabetic complication over the kidney is called diabetic nephropathy. Every one in five diabetic patients is suffering from diabetic nephropathy. But there are things that you can do to reduce the risk of getting this disease or diabetic complication.

The main work of the kidney is to protect your blood to eliminate extra fluids and wastes. For this, there are tiny blood vessels at the filtration site that will be damaged by high sugar levels or blood pressure. Because of this damage, the filtration process can't happen, and the waste can't be eradicated properly.

But you can prevent this by reducing the risk of this side effect. You should consult your doctor first on how to keep your sugar level and blood pressure maintained. Then, have a healthy life routine to avoid any complications.

Heart Attack

During diabetes, the heart is at more risk of having side effects with poor circulation. With high blood sugar levels, your body can't utilize all of the sugar. So, it sticks to the red blood cells, causing them to accumulate in the blood vessels.

Thus making a blockage in the vessels carrying blood to the heart. These blockages may cause strokes or heart attacks. However, this diabetic effect on the heart is called cardiovascular disease or coronary disease.

Nerve Damage

When diabetes has side effects on the nerves, it is called diabetic nephropathy. Diabetes can damage nerves all over the body, like feet, organs, or muscles. All the nerves in our body connect the different body parts with our brain. Any damage to these nerves may cause serious problems. It is a long-term diabetes side effect with four different types of neuropathy.

As the high blood sugar may cause damage to blood vessels, they can't supply nerves properly. Thus, the nerves won't get special nutrients and become damaged. Depending on what type of nerve is damaged, your body will be affected.

Foot Problem

As a diabetic patient, you are more at risk of getting serious foot problems. A minor issue with your feet may become a severe problem. So, it's necessary to take a proper look at your feet daily. If you notice any problem or feel unwell, you should take care of it quickly. These may include pain, swollen feet, cold or hot feel, etc.

No matter if the issue is small or big, you must take action straight away. You are more likely to have bristles on your feet that will heal naturally in most of the cases.

Acute Problems

The acute complications are long-term and chronic complications. These are as follows:

  • Hypos: it is the condition of very low blood sugar level that happens when the medication, food, or physical activity isn't right. It is not a condition with every diabetic patient, as it only happens if you skip a meal, take more insulin, do exercise, etc.
  • Hypers: It is a condition when your blood sugar is too high. It only happens when there isn't enough insulin or your body cannot use insulin effectively.
  • Diabetic Ketoacidosis: It is a condition in which the body produces high blood sugar and reduces insulin production. This activates the production of ketones in the body.

How To Prevent Diabetes?

There are some types of diabetes, like genetic and autoimmune diabetes, for which you can't take preventive measures. However, you can put efforts into lowering the risk of having type 2 or gestational diabetes. However, there is no permanent diabetes treatment, but you can avoid the risk in the following ways.

  • Manage your stress to avoid hormonal disturbances.
  • You should sleep 8 hours a day.
  • Have a healthy eating lifestyle.
  • Avoid smoking
  • Have a healthy weight.
  • Avoid drinking

You can avoid the risks of diabetes by following these things. However, risk factors that are inherited cannot be avoided. This list can be helpful for other diabetic risk factors. So, practice all the possible precautions to avoid having any side effects of diabetes that will only complicate things.

Conclusion

Being a diabetic patient is very chaotic as you have to take care of minor things as well. The side effects of diabetes can cause serious health issues. So, maintain a healthy lifestyle to avoid these severe effects.

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