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Diabetes or high blood glucose levels themselves give few or any symptoms at all. The major damage to the whole body is associated with persistently high glucose levels and the damage done by this to various body organs and systems.
Diabetes can turn into a dreadful monster if not controlled. But if sugar levels are kept under control, a diabetic may perhaps never have even slightest of discomfort due to diabetes. The complications of Diabetes may be either because of persistent increase in blood glucose levels as a result of uncontrolled Diabetes ( called chronic complications) or may be the result of acute lowering of blood glucose, or extremely high blood glucose or ketone levels, (called acute complications ).
ACUTE COMPLICATIONS
Diabetes may be a cause for Acute complications which arise from extremely high or low levels of glucose. These complications require urgent medical treatment in the Emergency department of a hospital or an ICU.
Acute lowering of blood glucose ( below 50 mg /dl) due to overdose of insulin or glucose lowering medication, kidney or liver disease, or skipping meals.....
Also see HYPOGLYCEMIA Unawareness, due to autonomic neuropathy, the diabetic person does not have any symptoms even when glusoe levels are critically low.
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Ketoacidosis is a metabolic abnormality usually seen patients on insulin (Type I), can cause severe pain in stomach, vommitting, with a characterstic fruity odour of breath.....
Hyperosmolar state When blood glucose levels are extremely high ( above 600 mgs/dl) blood literally thickens...
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 Complete or partial blockage of coronary arteries supplying blood to heart may cause death of portion of heart muscles, causing heart failure, irregular heart beats and other serious complications.
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Stroke is caused by blockage of arteries supplying blood to parts of the brain, symptoms may vary from difficulty in speech, weakness in legs or hands, sudden emotional changes to seizures and coma......
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CHRONIC COMPLICATIONS
Chronic complications are caused by persistently high blood glucose levels and the damage done to various organs and tissues due to diabetes. Most of the complications of Diabetes are due to formation of Advanced Glycation End products AGE; When the glucose levels are persistently raised all the cells of body are immersed in a sugary syrup ( like Jalebi / or gulab Jamun in syrup), this affects the synthesis of proteins, as proteins are structural elements of the cells, cells formed with a defective structure are not able to function properly ( like a house built with defective and fragile bricks).
Due to persistently raised levels of Glucose, cells forming the inner lining of blood vessel (endothelial cells) are not able to function properly and may cause clotting of blood and formation of thrombuses which disrupt blood supply to vital organs like heart, brain or kidneys.
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Deposition of calcium and other substances in walls of blood vessels cause blockages in blood flow to vital organs like heart, brain etc.. resulting in decreased effeciency and damage to these organs...
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Decreased blood supply to heart and constant damage to muscles of heart makes them inefficient and causes pain, breathlesness and chest discomfort with exertion to varying degrees...
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Blockage of large blood vessels supplying blood to different parts of brain may cause acute emergencies like paralysis or death, Smaller arteries supplying blood to some parts of brain may also get damaged over time in Diabetes leading to microinfartcs- death of small areas of the brain. Click to read more...
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Kidneys are vital to our existence as they secrete the waste products from our body together with urine, In uncontrolled Diabetes the structure of kidneys change making them nonfunctional..glomeruli , the functioning unit of kidneys are damaged...click to read more..
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Light is percieved by the light sensitive part of eye called retina.. this gets damaged in uncontrolled Diabetes leading to Blindness. Other eye problems like Glaucoma and cataract are also more frequent and of more severe nature in Diabetes.click to read more..
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Lack of insulin and long standing Diabetes causes damage to nerves, all kinds of nerves may get affected in Diabetes, including those of Central Nervous system ( Brain) or Peripheral nervous system- innervating hands, legs and other organs of the body, symptoms range from pain, numbness, burning and pricking to loss of function, impotence and even death. Click to read more..
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Diabetic Foot is a Constellation of Problems affecting the Foot in Diabetics, Damage to Nerves and Blood vessels lead to formation of non healing wounds which may even require amputation of the leg for treatment. Click here to read more..
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