Diabetes Side Effects: Know What They Are

Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to serious chronic health issues that can affect nearly every organ in your body. The long-term effects of diabetes can result in:

Cardiovascular disease

Among the complications of diabetes, People with Type 2 diabetes are more likely to develop and die from cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure, than people who do not have diabetes, says the American Heart Association. This is because people with diabetes, particularly Type 2 diabetes, may have the following conditions that contribute to their risk for developing CVD: high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol and high triglycerides, obesity, lack of physical activity and poorly controlled blood sugar. [1]

Chronic kidney disease

In the United States about 1 in 3 people with diabetes have diabetic nephropathy, which is chronic kidney disease (CKD).  It occurs because diabetes damages blood vessels in the kidneys that filter waste from blood. This can lead to kidney damage and high blood pressure. The latter can cause further kidney damage because it increases pressure in the kidneys’ delicate filtering system. Diabetic nephropathy can lead to kidney failure. Treatment options for kidney failure are dialysis or a kidney transplant. [2]

Diabetic neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy or nerve damage is one of the common complications of diabetes affecting as many as half the people with the disease. Over time, high blood glucose levels or blood sugar can damage nerves throughout the body. Nerve damage in the legs and feet is most common with diabetic neuropathy, although it can also cause damage with the digestive system, urinary tract, blood vessels and heart.[3] Neuropathy caused by diabetes cannot be reversed, since the body cannot naturally repair damaged nerve tissues. [4]

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a microvascular (small blood vessel) condition due to the long-term effects of diabetes. The condition occurs when high blood sugar damages blood vessels in the retina, which is the light-sensitive layer of cells in the back of the eye.  The damaged blood vessels can swell and leak resulting in blurry vision. New blood vessels may grow, but they are fragile and bleed. The condition usually affects both eyes. In the advanced stage, vision may become completely blocked if there is a lot of bleeding.

Other complications of diabetes

In addition to severe conditions that result from the long-term effects of diabetes, other complications resulting from the disease include:

Skin infections

Skin infections are common side effects of diabetes. In fact, skin problems may be the first sign that you have diabetes. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) points out that some diabetes skin conditions may be simply cosmetic, which means they are harmless. Others are cause for concern. Since diabetes also affects the immune system, it can make it more difficult for your body to fight off infections.[5] Diabetes related infections include:

Bacterial infections: Diabetes increases the risk of bacterial infections. Infections can lead to swollen, red and painful skin, which requires antibiotics for treatment. Common bacterial infections caused by diabetes include: [6]

·         Styes (infections of the glands of the eyelid)

·         Boils

·         Folliculitis (infections of hair follicles)

·         Carbuncles (deep skin infections and the tissue underneath

·         Infections around the nails

Fungal infections: Candida albicans is a fungal infection that can develop in people who have diabetes. It’s a yeast-like fungus that can create itchy rashes of moist, red areas surrounded by tiny blisters and scales. Common fungal infections include athlete’s foot, ringworm, and vaginal infections.[7]

Sleep apnea

The National Institutes of Health reports that 18 million Americans have obstructive sleep apnea.[8]  It is a sleep disorder in which a person momentarily stops breathing at recurring intervals throughout the night. Generally, the person is not aware this is happening. These lapses in breathing cause very brief awakenings that interfere with the natural progression of the sleep stages and affect sleep quality.[9]  A study conducted in 2009 found that over 86 percent of participants who were obese and had Type 2 diabetes had obstructive sleep apnea.[10]

Gum damage

You are at a greater risk of gum disease if you have diabetes. Diabetes can damage blood vessels in your mouth, which leads to bleeding. When this happens, it is harder for your body to fight infection and keep bacteria from growing in your mouth.[11]

Also, when you have diabetes, your body tends to make less saliva, which protects your mouth against dryness, food particles and bacteria build-up, and tooth decay. Diabetes can also increase the amount of glucose in your saliva, leading to more bacterial growth and plaque build-up. Over time, high blood glucose levels can lead to gum disease, which is an infection that affects the soft tissue in your mouth and can wear down the bones. [12]

Gastroparesis

Another one of the complications of diabetes is gastroparesis. It is a digestive disorder in which the muscles in the walls of the stomach do not work well or at all, slowing or delaying the rate at which food empties from the stomach to the intestine. In one study, over a period of 10 years, about 5 percent of people with Type 1 diabetes and about 1 percent of people with Type 2 diabetes developed gastroparesis.  Less than 1 percent of people without diabetes developed gastroparesis during the study. The relationship between diabetes and gastroparesis goes two ways. Some studies suggest that high blood glucose levels increase the risk for gastroparesis. On the other hand, gastroparesis may make it difficult for some people with diabetes to manage their blood glucose levels.[13]

Managing your diabetes through proper diet, exercise, and medications as prescribed by your doctor to control blood sugar can help to avoid serious complications such as the ones described here.