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Complications of diabetes usually arise when treatment is not done correctly and when there is no control over sugar levels. Thus, the excessive amount of glucose in the blood for a long time can cause injuries throughout the body, including eyes, kidneys, blood vessels, heart and nerves.
However, complications of diabetes can be easily avoided through treatment with drugs or insulin recommended by the endocrinologist, glycemic control throughout the day, regular physical activity and healthy and balanced diet, according to the recommendations of the nutritionist.
Some of the main complications related to uncontrolled diabetes are:
1. Diabetic foot
Diabetic foot is one of the most frequent complications of diabetes and is characterized by the appearance of sores on the skin and lack of sensation in the foot, which happens due to injuries to blood vessels and nerves, and in very severe cases, amputation may be necessary. affected limb, as circulation is compromised.
To treat this problem it is necessary to make dressings at the medical post and it is important to wash and dry the feet daily and apply moisturizing cream, especially on the heels. See more about how to identify and treat diabetic foot.
2. Kidney damage
Kidney damage, also known as diabetic nephropathy, is a change in the kidney's blood vessels that lead to difficulties in filtering the blood, which can result in kidney failure and the need for hemodialysis, which consists of a procedure in which the kidney function is replaced by a machine, with filtration.
A sign that indicates the occurrence of nephropathy is the presence of albumin in the urine, and the greater the amount of albumin in the urine, the more severe the state of the nephropathy.
3. Eye problems
Changes in vision can also be caused by the excessive amount of sugar circulating in the blood, with an increased risk of:
- Falls in which opacity forms in the lens of the eye, leaving blurred vision;
- Glaucoma, which is an injury to the optic nerve, which can lead to loss of the visual field;
- Macular edema in which deposition and accumulation of fluids and proteins occur in the macula of the eye, which is the central region of the retina, making it thicker and swollen;
- Diabetic retinopathy in which there is damage to the blood vessels in the retina of the eyes, which can cause permanent blindness. Learn more about diabetic retinopathy.
If the patient feels blurred or blurred, he / she should go to the ophthalmologist and, once diabetic retinopathy is detected, its treatment can be done through laser photocoagulation, surgeries or intraocular injections.
4. Diabetic neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy, which is the progressive degeneration of nerves, which causes decreased sensitivity in some parts of the body, such as the feet, resulting in the diabetic foot or a burning, cold or tingling sensation in the affected limbs. See how to treat diabetic neuropathy.
5. Heart problems
Uncontrolled diabetes can also favor the development of various inflammatory processes in the body, increasing the risk of heart involvement. Therefore, the person is more likely to have a heart attack, increase in blood pressure or have a stroke.
In addition, there is also a greater risk of peripheral vascular disease, in which the arteries of the legs and feet suffer obstruction or occlusion, which leads to narrowing and hardening of the arteries.
6. Infections
People with diabetes are more likely to develop infections because there is always a large amount of sugar circulating in the blood, which favors the proliferation of microorganisms and the development of infection. In addition, large amounts of circulating sugar can directly interfere with immunity.
Thus, in the case of uncontrolled diabetes there is a greater risk of infections and the development of periodontal diseases, in which there is infection and inflammation of the gums that can lead to tooth loss.
Complications of gestational diabetes
Complications of gestational diabetes arise during pregnancy and can be:
- Excessive growth of the fetus which can result in complications at birth;
- Development of diabetes in the future;
- Higher risk of miscarriage or of the baby dying shortly afterwards;
- Little blood sugar or other illness in the newborn, because after delivery the baby no longer receives glucose from the mother;
To prevent these complications, it is important to detect the disease early by conducting various tests for blood sugar and urine levels, and this is done at regular surveillance visits throughout pregnancy.