Diabetes - A Deadly Foe

Diabetes mellitus is one those deadly health conditions that have either been ignored or taken for granted by the sufferers. The implication of this neglect is that some of the people affected end up dying prematurely, while others have ended up with severe complications which they have to live with for the rest of their lives.

Dangerous as this condition is, some people have lived with it for years without being aware of its presence until it gradually destroys some of their body's vital organs. Diabetes is a silent killer which needs to be discovered on time and the necessary steps taken to combat it and minimize its effects on the individual's health.

How deadly is diabetes?

It is a disease that has the ability to completely destroy your life and reduce your life span by at least 20 years. Some of the effects it has on the body that actually overwhelms the body include:

1. Blindness: Diabetes leads to retinopathy, cataract and blindness. It gradually destroys the nerves and blood vessels supplying the eyes and eventually leads to the aforementioned complications.

2. Atherosclerosis: There is narrowing and hardening of the walls of the blood vessels. This reduces blood supply to the affected organs. Apart from the effect on the organs, atherosclerosis also causes hypertension. The individual now contends with two deadly health conditions each capable of reducing his life span by 20 years.

3. Lowered Infection Resistance: It also lowers individual's ability to resist infection. This lowered resistance makes the individual vulnerable to persistent urinary tract infection, pneumonia, carbuncle; and pruritus vulvae which is associated with candidiasis.

4. Glomerulosclerosis: There is marked degenerative changes in the glomerular capillaries of the renal tubules which leads to renal failure. This in itself poses another great danger to the person's life as the kidneys are no longer able to perform their duties of excreting nitrogenous waste products from the blood.

5. Diabetic Gangrene: The excess sugar in the blood provides a conducive medium for bacteria to grow. When there is an open wound, it is easily infected and when there is an infection it is difficult to control. The rate of spread is usually very fast and eventually there is death of the surrounding tissues and cells leading to a condition known as diabetic gangrene. When the toes, lower arms or feet are involved, the only way to control the infection most times is to amputate the affected limb.

6. Diabetic neuropathy: There is loss of sensitivity on the extremities making it difficult for the individual to feel pain, heat or cold due to loss of motor and sensory sensations.

It is therefore advisable to take your condition serious and seek medical help as soon as you discover you have diabetes. You may be putting your life in jeopardy by overlooking this foe which does not go away on its own. You need to take a proactive measure to prolong your life and minimize the nasty effects of this disease on your systems.

Joseph Ezie Efoghor is a registered Nurse and safety officer with years of practical experience. He writes on a variety of topics which might be of benefit to you. For more of his articles visit http://factsaboutdiabetes.blogspot.com

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