Complications of Diabetes and Their Prevention

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Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic or long-term disease that occurs the body can no longer produce insulin or cannot produce enough insulin. There are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type2, and gestational. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body produces very little or no insulin and frequently occurs in children and adolescents (IDF, 2021). Type 2 accounts for more than 90% of all diabetes cases and happens when the body does not make good use of the insulin it produces. Gestational diabetes occurs when one gets high blood sugar during pregnancy and is associated with both mother and child complications. Poorly controlled diabetes is dangerous and can cause life-threatening conditions.
Complications of diabetes and their prevention
Diabetes is believed to increase the risk of cardiovascular conditions drastically, including heart attack, coronary artery disease with angina, stroke, and atherosclerosis (Leon,m., et al., 2015). The risk factors of cardiovascular diseases such as obesity, high blood pressure, and dyslipidemia are common in diabetic patients, placing them at a higher risk for these complications.
Research has shown that poor glycemic control worsens cardiovascular outcomes in diabetic patients (Leon,m., et al., 2015). Therefore, close monitoring and control of glycemic levels are critical to helping reduce these complications. Glycemic levels can be monitored when one correctly uses a glycemic index (a measurement that ranks food containing carbohydrates and how they affect someone’s sugars) and ensuring that they are always within the acceptable levels.
Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of type 1 and 2 diabetes, with over 90% of diabetic patients being affected (Schreiber, A.K, 2015). There are four types of diabetic neuropathy: peripheral, autonomic, proximal, and focal neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy is the most ...