When people speak of diabetes, thoughts generally first turn to blood sugar. However, diabetes is a disease that has far-reaching effects on the body. It can literally affect you from your head on down to your toes. Here are just a few ways in which this disease can impact the body.
One significant way is the risk of stroke. While the prospect of a stroke can be scary for anyone, those with diabetes are at higher risk of this complication. In fact, someone with diabetes is four times more likely to suffer a stroke than someone who does not have the disease.
Vision problems are a hallmark of diabetes. These can include visual disturbances such as floaters, which are due to damaged blood vessels in the eyes. Cataracts and glaucoma are also a significant concern for those with diabetes. Without proper treatment, there is the risk of blindness. That is why it is so important to have regular visits to an eye specialist in addition to working to keep one’s diabetes under control.
Diabetes can also affect energy levels. It is not uncommon for diabetics to suffer low energy and fatigue. That is due to diabetes-related kidney and pancreas issues. This can, of course, mean that it is harder to concentrate on things. High blood pressure, too, is a concern. For those with diabetes, there is a greater risk of developing this condition.
One common symptom with which most people are familiar is excessive urination. This can actually be an early warning sign of diabetes, and it can also be an ongoing issue for diabetics.
Diabetes increases overall risk of infections. Due to the widespread ravages of diabetes, the body is ill-equipped to fight off bacterial, fungal, and yeast infections. The feet are particularly susceptible to infection, and there are also concerns of decreased circulation in this part of the body as well. The foot issues associated with diabetes generally necessitate having a good podiatrist to provide treatment.
In fact, when it comes to diabetes, its nature dictates that there needs to be a wide view taken. From recognizing the potential of additional health issues due to problems caused by diabetes to choosing a team of doctors to address the different aspects of the disease, this is something that has a far reach.
