Diabetes can have many complications. Having diabetes means that the sugar in your body is more than what is required. This can result in various complications.

These complications will be discussed by the competent team of doctors at Capitol Hospital so as to make us more aware.

A person having diabetes from 10 years will have more diabetic complications in his body than a person who has diabetes for a year or so. Longer the duration of diabetic history more astray is the sugar level in your blood and this means an increased risk of complications.

There can be mainly two types of diabetic complications:

• MICROVASCULAR COMPLICATIONS

These complications arise when the damage happens to small blood vessels. These include damage to eyes which is known as retinopathy. This can result in blindness in a person.

Damage to kidneys is termed as Nephropathy which is another complication of Diabetes. Damage to nerves, known as neuropathy and foot disorders are also classified in microvascular complications.

• MACROVASCULAR COMPLICATIONS

These complications arise when the damage is to larger blood vessels. The cardiovascular diseases come under this category. Heart attacks, strokes, narrowing of arteries etc. are all macro-vascular complications of diabetes.

Some of the microvascular complications are discussed below:

NEUROPATHY   

Elevated levels of glucose in the blood for long durations can cause damage to nerves.

This is known as diabetic neuropathy or neuropathy. It results in the damage of blood vessels. Also, the excess sugar results in the reduction of blood flow to all the nerves. It causes numbness, burning and pain on the part of the body it is affecting. Diabetic men may suffer from erectile dysfunction. If it is detected early, these complications can be prevented or delayed a little bit.

If the digestion system of the body is affected, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation such problems can arise.

RETINOPATHY

Diabetes can lead to visual impairment and as for last consequence, blindness too. When blood vessels near the retina are damaged, the vision of the eye can get detrimental. The vision gets blurred in the initial stages and as the blood sugar levels near the eye remain elevated for prolonged periods, blindness can occur.

The probability of getting other eye ailments increases if a person is diabetic like cataracts, glaucoma.

SKIN PROBLEMS

Many types of skin problems can occur if a person is diabetic. Rashes, itching in hand and legs can be experienced. Other types of bacterial and fungal infections can occur too.

All these complications can arise from diabetes. If the blood sugar level is maintained, these complications can be avoided or prevented. We will be discussing some more complications related to diabetes in subsequent blogs.