What health risks are associated with diabetes?
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Dr. Dean Ornish answered:The consequences of diabetes are serious - eye damage that can lead to blindness, kidney damage that can lead to kidney failure, nerve damage that can lead to impotence, damage to arteries in the heart that can lead to coronary heart disease, and damage to arteries in the arms and legs that can lead to amputation.
As a result, diabetes care accounts for 12 percent of the $645 billion in federal health care spending each year, almost $80 billion more than for those without diabetes.
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The consequences of diabetes are serious - eye damage that can lead to blindness, kidney damage that can lead to kidney failure, nerve damage that can lead to impotence, damage to arteries in the heart that can lead to coronary heart disease, and... More -
American Diabetes Association answered:There are Five Common Complications
- Cardiovascular disease and stroke
- Retinopathy (eye disease)
- Nephropathy (kidney disease)
- Neuropathy (nerve disease)
- Infections, including dental disease
Cardiovascular disease and stroke
People with diabetes are two to four times as likely to have a heart attack or stroke as people without diabetes. It is the number one killer of people with diabetes. Therefore, it’s important to understand and mitigate the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Retinopathy (eye disease)
The most common eye disease in people with diabetes is retinopathy, a disease of the retina. The retina is the light-sensing region of the inner eye. It acts like a miniature “movie screen” in the back of your eye, on which the images you see are projected.
Nephropathy (kidney disease)
Nephropathy or kidney disease can occur in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. However, severe kidney damage is more common in people with type 1 diabetes than in those with type 2.
Neuropathy (nerve disease)
Diabetes usually doesn’t impair the brain and spinal cord, but it can damage the nerves in other parts of the body. The nerves may be unable to send messages, may send them at the wrong times, or may send them too slowly. This is called diabetic neuropathy.
Infections, including dental disease
People with diabetes have a higher risk for infection and skin problems than other people. Skin problems and infections include everything from a scrape on the toe that gets out of hand to gum disease.
There are Five Common Complications Cardiovascular disease and stroke Retinopathy (eye disease) Nephropathy (kidney disease) Neuropathy (nerve disease) Infections, including dental disease Cardiovascular disease and stroke People with diabetes are... More -
Dr. Alan Seifer of Baptist Health South Florida answered:People with diabetes are predisposed to having elevated blood pressure levels and high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, all of which are major contributors to higher rates of cardiovascular disease. Many people with diabetes have several of these conditions at the same time. This combination of problems is often called metabolic syndrome.
Diabetes can damage your retina, your kidneys and cause neuropathy, a leading cause of foot wounds and ulcers, which can lead to foot and leg amputations.
Diabetes can also accelerate heart disease, or the formation of fatty plaques inside the arteries, which can lead to blockage.
Elevated blood glucose, called glucose toxicity, is essentially a toxic substance in the body.People with diabetes are predisposed to having elevated blood pressure levels and high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, all of which are major contributors to higher rates of cardiovascular disease. Many people with diabetes have... More
