Type II diabetes, once called adult-onset diabetes, develops when the body becomes resistant to the effects of the hormone insulin or when the production of insulin declines. Insulin helps cells import the glucose they need for energy. When cells no longer respond to insulin or insulin production slows, levels of glucose build in the blood while the cells starve for energy. Patients with type II diabetes must carefully regulate their diets and monitor their blood glucose levels to help avoid the myriad long-term complications of excess blood glucose.
Blood Vessel Damage
Over time, high levels of glucose in the blood damage veins and arteries by increasing the accumulation of fatty deposits inside them. Because of the damage, people with diabetes have twice the risk of heart disease or stroke compared with nondiabetics, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, or NIDDK, which also states that heart disease and stroke are the most common causes of death in people with diabetes. Being overweight is the primary risk factor for type II diabetes, according to the Mayo Clinic, a factor that compounds the risk for heart disease.
The accumulation of fatty deposits in the blood vessels supplying the legs causes peripheral arterial disease in people with diabetes. As blood flow to the legs and feet decreases, walking becomes painful. Poor circulation to the legs and feet raises the risk of amputation for diabetic patients.
Nerve Damage
When high blood glucose levels damage blood vessels, they fail to provide delicate nerve endings with the oxygen they need, so many patients with diabetes experience nerve damage or neuropathy. The first signs of this condition are tingling or burning in the extremities that gradually spreads. In severe cases, diabetic patients can lose all sensation in the affected parts. Nerve damage in the feet combined with poor blood flow leads to poor healing of otherwise minor wounds on the feet and raises the risk of amputation.
Kidney Damage
The kidneys remove waste from the body by passing blood through millions of tiny blood vessels that act as filters. High blood glucose damages this filtration system, decreasing the efficiency of the kidneys and damaging the kidneys themselves, so diabetics often develop chronic kidney disease, or CKD. High levels of a protein called albumin in the urine signal the beginning of CKD. According to NIDDK, although people with well-controlled diabetes often develop CKD, most cases do not progress to kidney failure; however, diabetes is still the most common cause of kidney failure and is responsible for 44 percent of new cases each year.
Other Complications
Type II diabetes can damage vision, causing cataracts and glaucoma. Damage to the blood vessels in the eyes causes a condition called diabetic retinopathy that can lead to blindness. Diabetes can also impair hearing. Diabetic patients have an elevated risk for recurrent skin infections and osteoporosis, or brittle bones. Type II diabetes might also increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or vascular dementia, according to the Mayo Clinic.
