Complications of diabetes   Author: Dr. P. Mayne All complications can be minimised by good diabetes control. Some of these complications have specific treatments. Some diabetics will not develop any of them whilst others will develop a few and still others many. The only sign of the not so good group will be those people with persistently poor control over many visits – indeed over years. It is no exaggeration to state that every one of these complications exist in the diabetics who attend this practice Arterial disease Lesions can occur to the inner lining of the arterial wall in any artery of the body. This is caused by oxidised LDL fat particles – one of the subtypes of cholesterol. Antioxidants work to prevent these lesions forming. The important processes that occur are heart attack, stroke, impotence and loss of blood supply to the extremities leading to gangrene. Cardiomyopathy A weakening of heart muscle with subsequent dilation of the chambers of the heart leading to heart failure Nephropathy This is renal disease as a direct consequence of diabetes. Not all diabetics develop this and it is reversible if caught early and can be treated very well otherwise. Initially the kidneys are in “superfunction” mode. Then they start to leak protein to a small degree ( in the care plan we talk about this as microalbumin). Later there is frank loss of protein. The process then continues into renal failure. Once in this category reversal is impossible. Some will go as far as to need dialysis. Neuropathy Diabetes can effect most nerves of the body though not the brain itself. There are different forms but the most common one we see is polyneuropathy which is characterised by areas of numbness, heightened sensation or pain. LEG ULCERS are a common complication of lost sensation in the leg (they can also be vascular in origin) Thrush (also known as candida or monilia) Is a very common complication for many diabetics occurring usually in the ears, mouth, axillae, groins and vagina Retinopathy The damage to arteries in the eye is far more intensive when it occurs compared to other parts of the body. Currently up to 85% of diabetics develop some form of this disorder in their lifetime. We will incorporate some pictures of this disorder. There are two forms simple and proliferative. In the latter the eye retina starts making extensive tufts of new blood vessels. Both forms cause blindness left untreated. Tight sugar control is necessary and these days laser treatment holds most of the condition in check Cataracts An opacification of the cornea. These develop more frequently in diabetics. ©  Dr Peter Mayne 2000-2013 WWW.drmayne.com   Image source: Downloaded from Google images