One of the best ways to tackle diabetes is to understand how it works and how it affects your body. This can help in preventing diabetic complications from multiplying. Many of these effects stem from high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and a lack of blood glucose control. Let’s take a look at the effects that diabetes can have on your body, in order to prepare for any developing complications.
Effects on The Body
Diabetes can cause long-term damage to our body. This is commonly referred to as diabetic complications. These complications are additional to the symptoms and can affect our blood vessels and nerves. If controlled properly, diabetic complications can be kept at bay. A balanced and healthy diet, avoiding alcohol and cigarettes, and regularly keeping the blood sugar levels in check, can help avoid these complications.
Effects on The Heart
One of the major effects of diabetes is that it contributes to blood pressure and is also linked with high cholesterol. This increases the risk of heart attacks and cardiovascular illness. Coronary diseases and diabetes are closely related and hence, it becomes imperative to take good care of our heart, if we are suffering from diabetes.
Effects on the Kidney
A kidney disease resulting from a diabetic condition is known as diabetic nephropathy. In this kind of disorder, the kidneys bear the risk of damage. A healthy and alcohol-free lifestyle is often recommended to avoid this.
Effects on the Nerves
The nerves are involved in many of our bodily functions, including movement, digestion, and reproduction. This means that the effects of diabetes on the nerves can be very serious. Nerve damage is often the result of poorly controlled diabetes treatment. Diabetes patients with numbness or tingling in the hands or feet, lack of arousal, excessive sweating and delayed bowel movements are at risk of nerve damage.
Effects on Digestion
Our digestive tract can often be damaged by diabetes in a number of ways. Nerve damage through diabetes can lead to nausea, constipation, and diarrhea. Alternatively, diabetes medication can also result in disturbed digestion.
Effects on the Skin
Our skin might face the effects of diabetes because of its effects on the nerves and circulation. Dry skin, slow healing of cuts, burns, and wounds, fungal and bacterial infections are some of the indirect effects diabetes can have on your skin. Another prominent effect is the loss of feeling in the foot.
