Education and Information for Diabetics
According to American Diabetes Association, diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the USA, with over 252 thousand death certificates listing it as an underlying or contributing cause of death. However, despite the statistics, most people do not take the condition seriously. They see it as a nuisance rather than something causing major health complications and even death. Moreover, among 30 million people stricken with diabetes, 7 million are undiagnosed.
There are real dangers the disease poses when left unattended, so the goal of this site is to motivate readers into taking better care of themselves or helping their closest ones manage the condition better. Learning to control diabetes starts with finding out as much as possible about the condition and how dangerous it is. This will help make necessary lifestyle changes to stay in good health and live a longer life.
Learn more about Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is an endocrine disease characterized by the lack (complete or partial) of insulin. Since insulin is a hormone that allows glucose (sugar) to enter the cells to produce energy, problems with insulin lead to increased blood sugar levels. The circulation of blood saturated with glucose causes damage to the blood vessels.
It is a known fact that the incidence of diabetes is increasing among all populations throughout the world, mainly due to unhealthy eating habits and sedentary lifestyle that lead to obesity. The very disease develops imperceptibly for several years, with asymptomatic hyperglycemia; therefore, many patients have been already having a number of complications when they are finally diagnosed with diabetes. By itself, diabetes is not dangerous; however, its complications and their consequences are potentially life-threatening. This disease is dangerous to all vessels that supply various organs with blood – the limbs, eyes, kidneys, liver and heart. Here are some of such complications:
- The risk of heart disease and stroke is higher in diabetic patients. Cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of death in diabetic patients.
- Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure and up to 10-20% of patients with diabetes die because of it.
- Diabetic neuropathy damages nerves throughout the body and most commonly nerves in the feet and legs. It is the most common complication affecting about 60-70% of diabetic patients.
- Diabetic retinopathy is an important cause of blindness in patients with diabetes and it occurs as a result of prolonged damage to the small blood vessels of the retina.
- Diabetic foot, a disturbed blood circulation in the limbs which causes the development of ulcers and even gangrene.
Considering all the above said, diabetes represents a prominent factor in mortality among Western countries population. Therefore, no matter your blood sugar is under control, it is vital to know these diabetes-related issues so you could identify them and seek treatment right away. The sooner you take action, the better your chances are. And we will provide you insight into the problem so that you could prevent it or manage diabetes better.