Nerve Damage
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects the body's ability to produce or properly manufacture insulin throughout the body and into the bloodstream. It is a serious endocrine disorder that affects more than 23.6 million adults and children in the United States alone. Diabetes can cause nerve damage throughout the body and to major organs. The nerve damage is a direct result of uncontrolled or high blood glucose levels that over time can begin to negatively affect the nerves that control pain and muscle function. Nerve damage can occur in areas such as the extremities. Often referred to as diabetic neuropathy, this can be a debilitating condition that can ultimately affect the way the muscle groups control certain parts of the body. It can also cause pain and numbness. Nerve damage can also affect eyesight if the patient's high blood pressure and glucose levels go uncontrolled for an extended period of time. As a result, the small blood vessels in the eye swell and leak blood into the retina---causing permanent eye damage and blindness. Other conditions that result from nerve damage can be cataracts, which is a film that covers the lens of the eye, and glaucoma, which is caused from optic nerve damage.
Cardiovascular Problems
The cardiovascular system can easily be compromised when it comes to diabetes. The heart can be directly affected when high cholesterol, blood pressure and obesity put strain on the heart. This, combined with the diabetes directly affecting the blood vessels of the cardiovascular system, can lead to an increase in cardiovascular ailments including heart attack and stroke. According the American Diabetes Association, up to 65 percent of diabetics will die from complications related to cardiovascular problems. Keeping blood glucose levels in the normal range, eating a balanced diet and having regular checkups help keep diabetes under control.
Renal Failure
Diabetes also affects the kidneys and can cause diabetic nephropathy, a condition in which the blood vessels and cells in the kidneys become damaged. The kidneys then begin to fail and can no longer properly filter out waste. Over time, this waste backs up into the blood rather than traveling through urine. Treatment involves a kidney transplant or dialysis. Testing for microalbumin in the urine is an effective way to tell if the kidneys are functioning properly.
