Diabetes Mellitus
Alternate Names : Diabetes
What can be done to prevent the disease?
There is no way to prevent type 1 diabetes.
But it may be possible to prevent type 2 diabetes
in many cases! This is especially true once pre-diabetes is known. Even modest
lifestyle changes can help prevent the onset of diabetes. This is why it is very
important to recognize pre-diabetes. The key is to:
eat a healthy diet
exercise 30 minutes a day at least 5 days a week
maintain a healthy body weight
What are the long-term effects of the disease?
Over time, high blood sugar levels damage blood vessels, nerves, and
other internal structures. Long-term effects of diabetes may include:
Retinopathy, a disease in the retina of the eye that can cause blindness.
Diabetes is the number one cause of blindness in adults who are younger than
age 40.
Diabetic nephropathy,
which is a disease of the kidneys. This disease can progress to a form of kidney
failure known as chronic renal failure.
Diabetes is the leading cause of chronic renal failure.
Atherosclerosis,
also known as hardening of the arteries. Artherosclerosis can lead to
heart attacks
and strokes.
It can also cause poor circulation in the legs and feet.
Diabetic neuropathy,
which means damage to nerves in the arms and legs. This damage can cause numbness and pain in
the hands and feet. When combined with poor circulation, neuropathy can result in
diabetic foot ulcers
and leg infections that may require amputation.
Autonomic neuropathy, which is a disorder that affects certain nerves. It
may cause problems with digestion,
diarrhea,
erectile dysfunction, a rapid heartbeat,
and low blood pressure.
Some of these long-term effects may begin even at the moderate-high
levels of blood glucose seen in pre-diabetes. This is why it is important to eat a
healthy diet, exercise 30 minutes a day, and keep body weight within a
healthy range. All of these actions can keep blood glucose within
healthy levels. People with diabetes risk factors should also be screened for
pre-diabetes on a regular basis.
What are the risks to others?
Diabetes is not catching and poses no risk to others. It does tend to
run in families.
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