If you are a diabetic and do nothing, you can expect a whole host of symptoms of uncontrolled diabetes. As a matter of fact, complications can affect nearly every organ in the body. Some of these are: heart and blood vessels, kidneys, gums and teeth, eyes and nerves. The biggest complications come in the form of heart and blood vessel disease. Somewhere in the area of 65% of diabetic deaths are due to heart disease and stroke. Many studies indicate that controlling diabetes can prevent or stop the progression of heart and blood vessel disease.
Keep in mind that one symptoms of uncontrolled diabetes can lead to another. Poor blood flow in the legs and feet (peripheral artery disease) is also caused by diabetes. Blood vessel or nerve damage can lead to foot problems that may possibly lead to amputation. Statistics show that more than 60% of leg and foot amputations (not related to an injury) are due to diabetes.
Another symptom of uncontrolled diabetes is eye problems. The leading cause of blindness in the United States results from diabetes. And there are a number of other problems as well. Some of those problems are: glaucoma, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy. Studies show that regular eye exams and treatment on a timely basis of these diabetic eye related problems could prevent up to 90% of diabetes related blindness.
Here are some more uncontrolled diabetes symptoms. Kidneys. You probably won’t be surprised to learn that diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure in the U.S. Drugs that lower blood pressure, even if you do not have high blood pressure, can reduce the risk of kidney failure in diabetics by 33%. Nerves. Over a period of time, high blood sugar levels can do damage to your nerves. As a result, you can lose sensation or feeling, with the extremities being the first place you will notice it starting with your toes since they are the furthest away. This nerve damage can cause pain in the arms, legs, hands and can also give you problems with digestion, going to the bathroom and/or having sex. Teeth and gums: Diabetics are at high risk for gum disease. In order to prevent gum disease and tooth loss, it is imperitive that you take care of your teeth on a daily basis as well as keeping you blood sugar under control.
Uncontrolled symptoms of diabetes are many and vary depending on the complication you may develop. One thing is for sure. Diabetes complications are caused by damage to the blood vessels or nerves or both. This damage is caused by elevated blood sugar. On that basis the prescription seems apparent. Lower your blood sugar, keep your blood sugar levels stable and keep your blood sugar under control. To some extent it is fairly straight forward and simple.
Here’s the good news. If you feel you have uncontrolled symptoms of diabetes, see your doctor as soon as possible. With early detection the complication the doctor may be able to treat it medication in order to prevent progression of the disease. Perhaps only minor lifestyle changes may be necessary. For those of you who have made it this far, here is a personal note. I am a third consecutive generation diabetic. I have had the disease for a little over three years. I have high blood pressure. I take no medication for my diabetes, but I do take medication for my high blood pressure. To this point I appear to be doing well. However, my father died from complications of diabetes. He lived for about 8 years after being diagnosed with the disease. Looking back, I would say that in the year or two prior to his death, he began to take les and less care of his condition. I believe that it was at this point that started to get symptoms of uncontrolled diabetes. He was diagnosed with the disease more than 50 years ago. Of course treatment, diet and medications were not as good then as they are now, so we are all very fortunate in that respect. But what I want to say most is this; on the night before my father died I went to the doctors’ house at 3AM because my father was not doing very well at all. When the doctor finished his examination he took me outside. He told me my father would live as long as his heart could keep pumping, because that was the only organ in his body that was working. It’s all up to us, isn’t it?
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