Very often, I refer to Diabetes and Hypertension as gateway diseases. Here's why.
Picture a long wall with just one door.
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That door is a gateway, and it represents in this case, Diabetes Mellitus.
When you open that door, this is what you get...
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In this first post of two we'll be considering some of the more common doors within that hallway. Let's have a look.
Common Complications of Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetic Ketoacidosis
Lamentably, sometimes Diabetes Mellitus can first introduce itself in person's life via a complication of the disease. Diabetic Ketoacidosis also known as DKA is frequently associated with Diabetes type 1. With a dangerous mixture of consistently high levels of blood sugars, and a lack of insulin to regulate those levels, the body begins to produce high levels of blood acids known as ketones, this in turn contributes to the symptoms listed below:
Diabetic Foot
Many of you reading already know a bit about this common complication of Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetic Foot is actually a complication...of a complication of Diabetic Mellitus known as Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy.I'm sure some of us can think of common cases of diabetic foot within our own families/villages/parishes etc. Perhaps someone with a known/or unknown history of diabetes mellitus stepped on a sharp object, and then realized the wound would not heal, or had a small wound or ulcer on a toe, that just never got better. These wounds are many times painless.
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Now, from here on out, you'll be seeing some conditions that end in '-pathy'. Don't be alarmed or feel confused about it. In the following complications, the ending '-pathy' is used as a way of saying disorder or disease.
Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
The name sounds complicated, but its simply refers to a disorder of the nerves, peripheral referring to the ends of our bodies or our limbs. In summary it can be simply understood as disorder of the nerves related to the limbs.It is one of the complications that lead to Diabetic Foot. In Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy high blood sugars damage nerves throughout the body, most often those of the lower limbs and feet are affected. It happens slowly over a long period of time, as a result a person may not know they have diabetes till encountering the symptoms of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy.
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This is the reason why one ought not discount or discredit that friend or family member with a diabetic foot who says something like:
"Honestly me nuh min feel wen ma get dig jack, ma jus see dah cut dey"
or
"Ma nuhmin eb'n realise dat da grung min so hot man"
This is highly possible as painful and thermal sensation are decreased in Diabetic Neuropathy.
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Peripheral vascular disease together with Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy contribute to Diabetic Foot.
As its name suggests this is a condition that affects the limbs however in this case it is the blood vessels. High amounts of sugar in blood contributes to blood vessel narrowing.
As a result of narrowed blood vessels, the blood cannot adequately nourish parts of the body that it. As it relates to Diabetic Foot, reduced blood supply to the feet, can cause cells and tissues to die due to lack of nourishment.
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Heart Attack and Stroke
Now let's link what you just read to understanding the relationship between Diabetes and Heart Attack and Stroke. Usually when we think about these two conditions, we immediately think high blood pressure. However, high glucose levels also affect all other blood vessels in the body, it is not just limited to the limbs. Therefore, since all other blood vessels are affected by high sugar concentration in the blood, they will also experience narrowing, and this is the reason why diabetics are at risk for Heart Attacks and Strokes.
courtesy www.newhealthadvisor.com
Side note :
Diabetes just like Hypertension is a systemic disease, meaning it affects all systems, therefore not only the limbs, heart and brain are affected, but also other major organs like the kidneys.
Diabetic Nephropathy
Diabetic Nephropathy is just the same as saying Diabetic Kidney Disease. The 'nephro-' is a prefix that simply means kidney. Diabetic Nephropathy is also a complication that progesses slowly over time, and its cause is also related to the narrowing of the blood vessels as we've discussed above.The symptoms of Diabetic Nephropathy are not unlike those in Chronic Kidney Disease, read that article here.
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There you have it.In the next post we'll speak on complications of diabetes related to sexual health and more, so be on the look out for Common Complications of DM-Part 2.
Now that you have an understanding of some of the common complications of Diabetes Mellitus, spread the word, teach someone something they didn't know about shugah.
It's all a part of building our Antigua & Barbuda #wadadlianstrong.
Would you like to learn even more about Diabetes Mellitus? Check out the Related Posts just below my signature.
Bye for now, and blessings to you and yours.
©July 2018
