Diabetes is a condition characterized by inappropriate increases of blood sugar levels due to deficiency of or inadequate insulin secretion released from the beta cells in the pancreas. The American Diabetes Association reports that as of 2007, there were 23.6 million people with diabetes in the United States. The symptoms and complications of diabetes can negatively affect a diabetic patient's quality of life.
Eye Problems
According to American Diabetes Association, diabetic eye disease encompasses a wide range of problems that can potentially lead to loss of vision. Diabetes can cause blurred vision due to the changing levels of glucose in the blood affecting the fluid balance in the lenses of the eyes, leading to changes in focusing. Diabetes can also affect the nerves that control eyesight, causing blurred vision. Diabetes increases the risk of developing cataracts and glaucoma, a disease characterized by increased pressure within the eye which can damage the optic nerve that transmits visual images to the brain. A cataract is the clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye. The most serious eye condition associated with diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, involves the retina--more specifically, the network of blood vessels lying within it.
Kidney Damage
Kidney disease can result as a complication of diabetes. According to the Genetic Health website, the kidneys filter waste products from the blood and excrete them in the form of urine, maintaining proper fluid balance in the body. High cholesterol level associated with diabetes can cause high blood pressure, which adds to the risk of developing a kidney disease. Genetic Health states that urinary tract infections can also cause kidney problems. Diabetes can affect the nerves that control the bladder, making it difficult for a person to empty the bladder completely. Bacteria can form in the full bladder and the tubes leading from it, eventually causing infection. The infection can reach the kidneys, causing pain, fever and possibly kidney damage.
Nerve Damage
According to National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, diabetes can cause changes in the nerves and the functions they control. In diabetes, blood vessels become narrowed by fatty deposits, reducing blood supply to the legs and feet, which can dull nerve sensitivity, causing what is known as peripheral neuropathy. An injury can occur in the foot because the nerves are not sensitive enough to register pain, and if the injury is ignored or not noticed in time, an infection can develop due to poor blood circulation, becoming a life-threatening problem that may require the amputation of the affected limb, according to MayoClinic.com.
Sexual Complications
MayoClinic.com states that sexual dysfunction is commonly seen in male and female diabetic patients. Diabetes can affect the nerves that control penile erection in men, which can cause impotence or loss of desire for sex. A 2005 study published in "Archives of Andrology Journal" points out that a diabetic woman can suffer from problems with arousal, decreased vaginal lubrication during stimulation and an inability to have an orgasm despite normal libido.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Erectile Dysfunction and Diabetes
- Genetic Health: How Does Diabetes Affect My Body?
- American Diabetes Association: Diabetes Complications
- National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse: Diabetic Neuropathies
- "Archives of Andrology"; Effect of diabetes mellitus on female sexual function and risk factors; H. Doruk, et al.; January-February 2005
