Most people do not like to dwell on the negative, but diabetes complications create real problems for people that cannot be ignored. If for no other reason, the following list can help you or a love one focus on good blood sugar management and avoid these problems altogether. So without further ado, here are the Top 5 Problems caused by diabetes.

1. Cardiovascular Diseases: Incredibly, heart disease and strokes account for almost 65% of all diabetic deaths. Diabetics are almost twice as likely to suffer from these afflictions as non-diabetics. So what causes this huge problem?

   Diabetics tend to have higher blood glucose levels. Higher glucose levels can raise the level of LDL cholesterol in one’s blood, causing the arteries to harden or narrow. Narrow or hardened blood vessels can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack and peripheral artery disease (PAD). Almost 74% of adult diabetic’s suffer from high blood pressure or use prescription medication for hypertension.

2. Kidney Disease: Approximately 44% of all kidney failures in the United States occur in diabetics. Kidney disease is very gradual, normally occurring over decades. Mysteriously, there is no real consensus on what causes the higher kidney disease rate in diabetics. The only agreement amongst scientists is that there appears to be a link between elevated blood glucose levels and high blood pressure.
3. Diabetic Neuropathy: Nervous system damage may be the scariest of all Top 5 complications. While nerve damage is not usually fatal, it does affect nearly 60%-70% of diabetics in one form or another. This is a massive number of people. Neuropathy damage differs widely both in severity and type of affliction. A person’s extremities are often adversely affected. Reduced sensation or even pain in feet, arms and/or legs, or hands is fairly common. Severe nerve damage can also lead to amputations.

   Besides damage to one’s extremities, the autonomous nervous system, which controls breathing, sexual function (men and women), circulation, urination, digestion and temperature regulation is also commonly affected.

4. Diabetic Retinopathy: Diabetic eye disease results in approximately 12,000 to 24,000 cases a year and is the leading cause of blindness in adults aged 20 to 74. How is this caused? You guessed it, high blood glucose. Over time, the increased glucose in the blood damages the small blood vessels in the eye. Cataracts and glaucoma are common and in severe cases, blindness can result.
5. Dental Complications: Almost 30% of diabetics have a severe case of periodontal disease. In fact, the risk of a diabetic developing gum disease is almost twice that of non-diabetics. Causes? High Blood Sugar. Bacteria in the mouth love glucose. The higher your blood glucose, the more of a feeding frenzy the bacteria have in your mouth. Clearly, this is not a pretty picture.

There you have it, the Top 5 problems caused by diabetes. If you have diabetes, good blood sugar management is critical to lowering your chances of developing these complications. Please see your doctor to make sure you are doing everything you can to stay healthy and decrease your risk.

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