There were almost 24 million diabetic children and adults in the United States as of 2007, notes the American Diabetes Association. Nearly 2 million new cases of diabetes are diagnosed every year. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can cause symptoms that may affect specific systems of the body.
Integumentary System
The integumentary system is composed of the skin. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can leave the skin more prone to bacterial and fungal infections, the American Diabetes Association notes. Moreover, poor oral hygiene may also lead to gum infections, according to MayoClinic.com. In addition, diabetes can affect blood vessels that cause the appearance of scaly patches of skin usually on the front part of the legs. Other skin related symptoms include atherosclerosis, a condition in which blood vessels are narrowed, causing the skin in an affected area to turn hairless, thin, and shiny. Insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes can cause a darkened areas of skin to appear in the armpits and the folds of the neck. This condition is called acanthosis nigricans.
Nervous System
Excessively high levels of blood sugar can damage nerves, creating a diabetes symptom called neuropathy, explains MayoClinic.com. Neuropathy occurs when the blood vessels that keep the nerves healthy are damaged by high blood sugar. The ensuing damage causes numbness, tingling, or even pain to spread from the tips of the extremities to the rest of the body. The retinas can also be damaged by diabetes. Glaucoma and cataracts are additional symptoms that may develop as a result of nerve damage, according to the American Diabetes Association.
Cardiovascular System
Diabetes can significantly increase the chance of developing cardiovascular system symptoms. Diabetes can increase the risk of strokes, notes the American Diabetes Association. Strokes are commonly caused by blocked blood vessels. Other cardiovascular system diabetes symptoms include coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial disease, and heart attacks, according to MayoClinic.com and the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes can also raise blood pressure, and increase the chances of developing heart disease.
Digestive System Diabetes Symptoms
One example of a diabetes symptom that affects the digestive system in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes is gastroparesis. This occurs when diabetes damages the nerves responsible for moving food through the digestive tract. As such, food passes through the stomach and intestines very slowly, according to the American Diabetes Association.
Excretory System
Diabetes can also damage the kidneys, causing a condition known as nephropathy, notes MayoClinic.com. Nephropathy occurs when excessively high levels of blood sugar damage the blood vessels in the kidneys, explains the American Diabetes Association. The damage may eventually lead to kidney failure. Another excretory related diabetes symptom is ketoacidosis. This is characterized by high levels of ketones, a kind of acid produced when the body converts fat into energy. The ketones are usually excreted in urine.
