Diabetes Untreated Consequences |
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| By: Toby Dushieney | ||||
The biggest problem it seems to me, is two fold. In the first instance, I believe there is a sizable proportion of the population who simply don't want to bother the doctor if they feel a little "under the weather". I myself never visited the doctor, and indeed the first time I did, in my forties, the doctor remarked that my file was completely empty. I think it's because I am too proud to admit an illness had got the better of me, which I have since found to be silly and also dangerous! That may be a little harsh, but I do think fear plays a key role in keeping some of us from the doctor. Even if we do go to see the doctor, it's often only if we feel really ill - and type 2 diabetes can take sometime for us to feel that way. As we get older, and reach the typical age where diabetes strikes, it's not just tempting, it actually seems logical, at least in the early stages, to blame type 2 diabetic symptoms on age and stress. Keeping fit and checking with our doctors every year becomes so important as we age. Diabetes is basically a condition where there is too much sugar in the blood. Sugar provides the energy the body needs and it is insulin that unlocks the cells to allow the sugar in. A lack of insulin and the sugar is not absorbed, resulting in tiredness (and many other issues too). The nervous system, kidneys and eyes are most at risk from long term damage as a result of type 2 diabetes. As far as renal damage is concerned, in the UK 30% of patients on dialysis have type 2 diabetes. This can be prevented by close monitoring of the blood sugar levels in the type 2 patient, as well as getting the levels of bad cholesterol down. Diabetes can also damage the optic nerve. Retinopathy and catarats are more common in diabetics, so it is vital to have an annual eye check which checks the back of the eye itself, as opposed to a simple vision check. Neuropathy, (nerve disease), affects about 60% of those with diabetes. This usually affects the feet and can lead to amputation. Neuropathy affects both type 1 and 2 sufferers and usually occurs after about ten years of high sugar levels. When these levels are reduced through treatment, the condition improves and often goes away completely. So don't let pride get in your way when it comes to the doctor. Try and get a yearly medical check up, and don't put feelings of tiredness down to old age. |
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| Article Source: http://4health.co.za | ||||
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