How Dangerous is Diabetes?

Why is Diabetes Dangerous?

While diabetes is a common illness, it is uncommon for people to truly understand how serious it is.
Diabetes is a disease that progressively gets worse and can lead to very serious complications when not managed properly.
Some of the more common complications are kidney failure, nerve damage, like peripheral neuropathy which is characterized by numbness, tingling, and pain in the hands and feet, and vision problems. However, there are a lot more complications that can occur.

Peripheral Arterial Disease

Peripheral Arterial Disease is a disease where plaque builds up in your arteries. This build up causes the arteries to be narrowed, preventing proper blood flow to your limbs. Peripheral arterial disease increases your risk of heart attack or stroke.

Increased Infections

When you have diabetes, your immune system can become weakened. This puts you at a higher risk for infections. Infections such as yeast infections and urinary tract infections can cause a lot of further complications. The nerve damage that could result from diabetes could also lead to you not feeling an infected area in a timely manner, delaying treatment.

Skin Complications

Skin complications are actually one of the first noticeable signs of diabetes. When you have diabetes, and it isn’t being properly treated, you are at risk for fungal infections, bacterial infections, and itchy skin. You may also suffer from other skin conditions such as atherosclerosis, digital sclerosis, and severe blisters.

Gastroparesis

Gastroparesis is a condition that caused your stomach to not be able to empy itself as quickly as it should. This interferes with normal digestion and can cause nausea, vomiting, and causes problems with blood sugar levels.

Depression

Depression often comes along with diabetes. The chance of someone suffering from depression is actually 2-3 times higher in someone with diabetes, than someone who does not have diabetes.

Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Diabetic ketoacidosis happens when your blood sugar is way too high and ketones build up to dangerous levels inside your body. Ketoacidosis is not the same as ketosis, which is harmless.
 Diabetic ketoacidosis happens when there is not enough insulin in your body to process high levels of glucose in your blood.

Diabetes is a very serious and dangerous disease. When it is left untreated, it can take an extreme toll on your body, both mentally and physically. It’s important to monitor your blood sugars, weight, blood pressure, get a diabetes screening and schedule routine checkups with your doctor to prevent all of these dangerous complications that come with diabetes.
CureMed Pharmacy has a Diabetes Self-Management Education program that provides an education to those suffering from Diabetes. It teaches patients how to make better food choices, manage AIC levels with proper diabetic care, and also provide follow-ups and information for a healthier lifestyle. For more information on our diabetes program, click here.

Type 2 Diabetes

Is type 2 diabetes preventable?

Nowadays, it is rare to not know someone who is either prediabetic or has been diagnosed with type 2
diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is when your body does not make or use insulin as well as it should. When it comes to how our body functions, there are so many things we can correct so that it performs as well as it should. When we can’t see well, we can get our vision corrected. When we have chronic migraines, we can be prescribed preventatives. But what about type 2 diabetes? Can that be prevented?
The short answer is yes. Type 2 diabetes can most definitely be prevented. In order to prevent something, first we need to know the cause, or the factors. Here are some factors that greatly contribute to the likely hood of being pre diabetic and being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes:

• Being overweight and/or not being physically active
• Having high blood pressure
• Having a family history of type 2 diabetes
• Having an unhealthy diet
• Being a part of a certain ethnic group
• Having high blood glucose levels
• Being a smoker

There are obviously things on that list that you cannot change, so as your ethnicity or your family history. However, there are also quite a few things that depend solely on what choices you do or don’t
make. Your diet and how physically active you are play a huge role in your likelihood to become prediabetic or be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Here are some things you can do to greatly reduce your risk of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes:

• Eat meats that are leaner, such as fish and chicken
• Drink water instead of sugary juices and soda
• Eat healthy fats such as nuts, avocados and fatty fish
• Reduce your consumption of sugar and carbohydrates
• Try replacing your higher carb grains with grains that contain more fiber and protein
• Limit your salt intake
• Refresh your memory on what a portion should be

While reversing being prediabetic is important to your overall health and life span, it is just as important to take control before you become prediabetic. Making healthy choices, staying physically active, and eating a nutritionally dense diet will not only reduce your risk of becoming diabetic, but will also improve your cholesterol, risk of heart disease, and lower your blood pressure. Nothing but positive benefits will result from taking control of your health!

CureMed Pharmacy has a Diabetes Self-Management Education program that provides an education to those suffering from Diabetes. It teaches patients how to make better food choices, manage AIC levels with proper diabetic care, and also provide follow-ups and information for a healthier lifestyle.