The heart pumps blood to every part of the body through the blood vessels. When it does this, it delivers oxygen and other nutrients that are essential for life to all parts of the body. Persons who suffer from diabetes have abnormally high levels of glucose in their blood. Diabetes can affect various body systems and the risk of this happening may depend on if a person has type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
Causes
The body contains big and small blood vessels. Damage to these blood vessels can affect the body systems that they supply with blood. In diabetes, glucose buildup in the arteries---large blood vessels that deliver oxygenated blood--makes the blood thick and slows down its flow through the body. This decreases the amount of oxygen and nutrients being delivered to various parts of the body. Consequently, cells in the body may get injured or die. Cell death from excess blood glucose damages the arteries and can cause them to become hard and narrow. Small blood vessels in the body can also be damaged by the accumulation of glucose in the blood.
Affected Systems
The nervous, cardiovascular, urinary and sensory systems may be affected by diabetes. This occurs when the large and small blood vessels in the body are damaged. The cardiovascular system is made of the heart and blood vessels, and is affected by a decrease in blood flow to the heart, brain and legs as a result of artery damage. Damage to small blood vessels in diabetes also decreases blood flow and affects the nervous system, the kidneys, which make up the urinary system, and the eyes, which are parts of the sensory system.
Effects
Possible effects of diabetes on the cardiovascular system includes heart attack, coronary artery disease, stroke and peripheral artery disease. A tingling and numbness sensation in the legs of diabetics is a sign of nerve damage. Another effect of nerve damage in diabetes is the development of leg ulcers that heal slowly. The National Eye Institute explains that diabetes can cause vision loss or blindness. Kidney damage in diabetes is indicated by swelling of the ankles, feet and fatigue. In severe cases, kidney failure can occur.
Considerations
The National Eye Institute explains that eye damage can affect people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and that 40 percent to 45 percent of Americans who have been diagnosed with diabetes will have some eye damage. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases explains that heart attacks and strokes are the leading cause of death in diabetic patients. Furthermore, diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure in the United States. One in 10 people with type 2 diabetes and three in 10 with type 1 may develop some form of kidney disease.
Prevention/Solution
The Mayo Clinic reports that when a person has had diabetes for a long time, or when it is not managed properly, the risk of developing diabetes-related complications such heart disease, nerve damage and kidney damage goes up. The National Eye Institute suggests that keeping blood sugar levels close to normal may reduce eye, kidney and nerve damage. Additionally, controlling other factors such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels could prevent cardiovascular disease in diabetic patients, as reported by The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
