5 Health Problems Linked to Diabetes

Diabetes is a problem.

But not just for the reasons you think. Yes, the fact that your body doesn’t produce enough insulin is tricky. This lack of sufficient insulin means your blood sugar can soar to unsafe levels. 

Over time, these elevated blood sugar levels can cause complications for the other systems in your body, and you can begin to develop new health issues. The longer you have diabetes without getting it under control, the higher your risk of complications becomes.

Here’s a look at five health problems linked to diabetes, brought to you by Pamela Phillips, PhD, FNP-C, and the team at Phillips Family Medical, where treating diabetes is one of the things we do best.

1. Heart and blood vessel disease

These problems fall in a group called cardiovascular disease. Diabetes substantially increases the risk of many heart issues, including heart attack, stroke, narrowing of the arteries, and coronary artery disease (CAD). The bottom line is that if you have diabetes, you’re twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke as an adult without diabetes.

2. Nerve damage

Too much sugar in your blood over time can damage your nerves. This is called diabetic neuropathy and it can lead to numbness, tingling, burning, or pain beginning in your fingers and toes and spreading upward. Other symptoms of nerve damage can include vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and issues with sexual function.

3. Kidney disease

Kidney disease, or diabetic nephropathy, is another concern. Your kidneys use millions of tiny blood vessels to filter waste from your blood continuously. Over time, diabetes can damage this delicate filtering system so your kidneys stop working, leading to the need for dialysis or transplant.

4. Eye damage

High blood sugar levels can also cause damage to the blood vessels and lenses in your eyes, a problem called diabetic retinopathy. This can cause glaucoma, cataracts, and even blindness if the problem is left untreated.

5. Foot damage

Your feet are also at risk for nerve and blood vessel damage from high blood sugar. You may experience tingling, numbness, pain, or a loss of feeling. Because you can’t feel well, small problems such as a minor cut or blister can lead to more serious issues such as ulcers, infections, and even amputation.

Diabetes can obviously lead to many other problems, so it’s imperative to get the disease under control. Our team at Phillips Family Medical is here to help. Call our DeSoto, Texas, office directly at 972-861-1151 or book an appointment online today.