According to your trusted Bastrop diabetes specialist Pompeyo Chavez, the condition affects your entire system differently. However, your blood vessels get the worst hit. Inflammation of the blood vessels makes them trap cholesterol, forming plaque. As a result, your arteries become hard and narrow, preventing blood from reaching your vital organs. It is essential to contact your healthcare provider to ensure your cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels are in check.
How does diabetes affect your health?
Diabetes significantly affects your health in different ways. For instance:
Heart
Your heart and blood vessels are usually the worst hit with diabetes. Since the condition affects how the blood vessels in your heart function, it might weaken the organ. Your heart might also have issues getting enough supplies when your system fails to get and use nutrients effectively. As a result, you might be at risk of heart failure.
Mental health
You are three times more likely to get depressed when you have diabetes. Dealing with a long-term health concern can take a toll on your stress levels, affecting your blood sugar levels. As a result, you may darken your mood, making it difficult to stay motivated. Without the motivation to care for yourself, the condition is more likely to worsen. Additionally, you might feel anxious, angry, and burned-out dealing with the fluctuating sugar levels.
Eyes
Diabetes is a common cause of blindness in most adults. You are likely to get diabetic retinopathy when you fail to control your sugar levels. The gradual condition destroys the light-sensitive parts of your eyes (macula and retina), thus affecting clear vision. Diabetic retinopathy develops when your blood vessels in the retina bulge and leak fluid inside your eyes because of persistent high sugar levels for an extensive period.
Bladder and reproductive system
High blood sugar levels force your system to retain excess fluid. As a result, your bladder gets to handle lots of urine, causing you to wake up several times at night to go to the bathroom. In an instance that diabetes weakens your urinary muscles, you will be susceptible to urinary tract infections.
Brain and nervous system
Your brain requires glucose to function. Since minimal bouts of sugar are likely to damage your brain, your cells work more than they should to use the sugar. As a result, you might feel fatigued and worn out. You are also at risk of stroke might also be high because your arteries are likely to narrow and harden with diabetes. Sex-wise, diabetes may make it hard to sustain an erection. The condition significantly lowers lubrication in women, resulting in painful sex.
Additionally, neuropathy (nerve damage) is common with diabetes. All your organs, including your heart, depend on healthy nerves to function effectively. However, some nerves may become numb or have other health issues when you have diabetes. Though the small cuts might be unnoticeable, the sores might develop into big wounds that do not heal faster because they do not have what they need to get better. In severe cases, your doctor might recommend an amputation of the affected body part to prevent the wounds from spreading.
Contact your doctor for more information on how diabetes can affect your health.
