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include frequent infections. A person with diabetes has a weakened ability
to use white blood cells to fight infection. To make the problem worse, when
a patient with diabetes has an infection, it makes blood sugar levels even
harder to control.
Diabetic patients will have hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar several times
during the disease. This usually results after taking too much insulin, exercising
more than usual, missing a meal, or drinking too much alcohol. Hypoglycemia
must be understood and recognized. Be prepared to treat it always. Headaches,
dizziness, lack of concentration, trembling hands, and excessive sweating are
common signs of hypoglycemia. If blood sugar gets too low, you could pass out,
or have a seizure. This is a serious complication and you should know how to
help the person having an insulin reaction.
A serious complication of Type 2 diabetes is hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic
syndrome. This complication happens when the blood sugar levels are dangerously
high. The body tries to get rid of the blood sugar by removing it through increased
urination. This leads to severe dehydration that can cause seizures, coma,
and death. This complication can be brought on by stress, injury to the body,
stroke, and the use of steroids.
Long-term complications include blindness. Damage is done to the retina by
diabetes and is the leading cause of blindness. Kidney damage from diabetes
is the leading cause of kidney failure in the United States.
People with diabetes already are at higher risk of cardiovascular problems,
kidney disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels. Arteries
building up with fatty plaques can cause peripheral vascular disease or decreased
circulation in the arms and legs. Damage can be caused to the nerves in the
nervous system. This can lead to chronic diarrhea, uncontrollable heart rate,
high blood pressure, and paralysis of the stomach.
One of the scariest complications is one I watched happen to my father. Because
of nerve damage, the feet are sensitive and easily damaged by even a minor
wound to the feet. Even a small cut from cutting the toenails can lead to huge
problems. Because the feet are no longer sensitive because of nerve damage,
a diabetic patient may not know they have a problem until it has created an
ulcer where the wound is. This complication often leads to amputation. It might
start with a toe that was injured and may lead to amputation of first the toe,
because it is hard for any wound to heal, it may lead to further amputations.
It could start with a toe, but may need more surgeries to remove more toes,
the foot, and sometimes lead to removing the leg. A person with diabetes, should
always walk with their feet covered, and be careful when they are grooming
their toenails. A possible solution would be to have the toenails cut by a
trained professional, either a visiting nurse or a licensed foot doctor.
