Frequently Asked Questions
Diabetes-Related Health Concerns
These publications were sources for this document:
Effects of Diabetes
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/human_body.htm
Diabetes Problems
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/consumer/diabproblems.htm
Take Charge of Your Diabetes
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/tcyd/index.htm
National Diabetes Fact Sheet 2003
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/factsheet.htm
The Link Between Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease
http://www.ndep.nih.gov/campaigns/BeSmart/BeSmart_overview.htm
Insulin Resistance and Pre-Diabetes
http://www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/insulinresistance/index.htm
The Metabolic Syndrome
http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-research/summaries/ekelund-metabolic.jsp*
Prevent Diabetes Problems: Keep Your Eyes Healthy
http://www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/complications_eyes/index.htm
Kidney Disease of Diabetes
http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/kdd/index.htm
Prevent Diabetes Problems: Keep Your Kidneys Healthy
http://www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/complications_kidneys/index.htm
Prevent Diabetes Problems: Keep Your Feet and Skin Healthy
http://www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/complications_feet/index.htm
Prevent Diabetes Problems: Keep Your Teeth and Gums Healthy
http://www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/complications_teeth/index.htm
Oral Health and Oral Hygiene
http://www.diabetes.org/type-2-diabetes/mouth-care.jsp*
Sexual and Urologic Problems of Diabetes
http://www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/sup/index.htm
 How can diabetes affect cardiovascular
health?
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of early death among people with
diabetes. Adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely than people
without diabetes to have heart disease or experience a stroke. At least 65%
of people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke. About 70% of
people with diabetes also have high blood pressure.
See the following for more information:
How are cholesterol, triglyceride,
weight, and blood pressure problems related to diabetes?
People with type 2 diabetes have high rates of cholesterol and triglyceride
abnormalities, obesity, and high blood pressure, all of which are major contributors
to higher rates of cardiovascular disease. Many people with diabetes have several
of these conditions at the same time. This combination of problems is often
called metabolic syndrome (formerly known as Syndrome X). The metabolic syndrome
is often defined as the presence of any three of the following conditions: 1) excess
weight around the waist; 2) high levels of triglycerides; 3) low levels of HDL,
or "good," cholesterol; 4) high blood pressure; and 5) high fasting
blood glucose levels. If you have one or more of these conditions, you are at
an increased risk for having one or more of the others. The more conditions that
you have, the greater the risk to your health.
How can I be “heart healthy”
and avoid cardiovascular disease if I have diabetes?
To protect your heart and blood vessels, eat right, get physical activity,
don’t smoke, and maintain healthy blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol
levels. Choose a healthy diet, low in salt. Work with a dietitian to plan healthy
meals. If you’re overweight, talk about how to safely lose weight. Ask about
a physical activity or exercise program. Quit smoking if you currently do. Get
a hemoglobin A1C test at least twice a year to determine what your average blood
glucose level was for the past 2 to 3 months. Get your blood pressure checked
at every doctor’s visit, and get your cholesterol checked at least once a year.
Take medications if prescribed by your doctor.
See the following for more information:
How can diabetes affect the eyes?
In diabetic eye disease, high blood glucose and high blood pressure cause small
blood vessels to swell and leak liquid into the retina of the eye, blurring
the vision and sometimes leading to blindness. People with diabetes are also
more likely to develop cataracts – a clouding of the eye’s lens, and glaucoma
– optic nerve damage. Laser surgery can help these conditions.
See the following for more information:
How can I keep my eyes healthy
if I have diabetes?
There’s a lot you can do to prevent eye problems. A recent study shows that
keeping your blood glucose level closer to normal can prevent or delay the onset
of diabetic eye disease. Keeping your blood pressure under control is also important.
Finding and treating eye problems early can help save sight.
It is best to have an eye doctor give you a dilated eye exam at least once a year. The doctor
will use eye drops to enlarge (dilate) your pupils to examine the backs of your
eyes. Your eyes will be checked for signs of cataracts or glaucoma, problems
that people with diabetes are more likely to get.
Because diabetic eye disease may develop without symptoms, regular eye exams
are important for finding problems early. Some people may notice signs of vision
changes. If you’re having trouble reading, if your vision is blurred, or if
you’re seeing rings around lights, dark spots, or flashing lights, you may have
eye problems. Be sure to tell your health care team or eye doctor about any
eye problems you may have.
See the following for more information:
How can diabetes affect the kidneys?
In diabetic kidney disease (also called diabetic nephropathy), cells and blood
vessels in the kidneys are damaged, affecting the organs’ ability to filter
out waste. Waste builds up in your blood instead of being excreted. In some
cases this can lead to kidney failure. When the kidneys fail, a person has to
have his or her blood filtered through a machine (a treatment called dialysis)
several times a week, or has to get a kidney transplant.
See the following for more information:
How can I keep my kidneys healthy
if I have diabetes?
There’s a lot you can do to prevent kidney problems. A recent study shows that
controlling your blood glucose can prevent or delay the onset of kidney disease.
Keeping your blood pressure under control is also important.
Diabetic kidney disease happens slowly and silently, so you might not feel
that anything is wrong until severe problems have developed. Therefore, it is
important to get your blood and urine checked for kidney problems each year.
Your doctor can learn how well your kidneys are working by testing every year
for microalbumin (a protein) in the urine. Microalbumin in the urine is an
early sign of diabetic kidney disease. Your doctor can also do a yearly blood
test to measure your kidney function.
Go to the doctor if you develop a bladder or kidney infection; symptoms include
cloudy or bloody urine, pain or burning when you urinate, an urgent need to
urinate often, back pain, chills, or fever.
See the following for more information:
How can diabetes affect nerve
endings?
Having high blood glucose for many years can damage the blood vessels that
bring oxygen to some nerves, as well as the nerve coverings. Damaged nerves
may stop sending messages, or send messages too slowly or at the wrong times.
Numbness, pain, and weakness in the hands, arms, feet, and legs may develop.
Problems may also occur in various organs, including the digestive tract, heart,
and sex organs. Diabetic neuropathy is the medical term for damage to the nervous
system from diabetes. The most common type is peripheral neuropathy, which affects
the arms and legs.
An estimated 50% of those with diabetes have some form of neuropathy,
but not all with neuropathy have symptoms. People with diabetes can develop
nerve problems at any time, but the longer a person has diabetes, the greater
the risk. The highest rates of neuropathy are among people who have had the
disease for at least 25 years.
Diabetic neuropathy also appears to be more common in people who have had problems
controlling their blood glucose levels, in those with high levels of blood fat
and blood pressure, in overweight people, and in people over the age of 40.
See the following for more information::
How can I prevent nerve damage
if I have diabetes?
You can help keep your nervous system healthy by keeping your blood
glucose as close to normal as possible, getting regular physical activity, not
smoking, taking good care of your feet each day (see below), having your health
care provider examine your feet at least 4 times a year, and getting your feet
tested for nerve damage at least once a year.
See the following for more information::
Why is it especially important
to take care of my feet if I have diabetes?
Nerve damage, circulation problems, and infections can cause serious foot problems
for people with diabetes. Sometimes nerve damage can deform or misshape your
feet, causing pressure points that can turn into blisters, sores, or ulcers.
Poor circulation can make these injuries slow to heal. Sometimes this can lead
to amputation of a toe, foot, or leg.
See the following for more information:
What should I do on a regular
basis to take care of my feet?
Look for cuts, cracks, sores, red spots, swelling, infected toenails, splinters,
blisters, and calluses on the feet each day. Call your doctor if such wounds
do not heal after one day.
If you have corns and calluses, ask your doctor or podiatrist about the best
way to care for them.
Wash your feet in warm—not hot—water and dry them well.
Cut your toenails once a week or when needed. Cut toenails when they are soft
from washing. Cut them to the shape of the toe and not too short. File the edges
with an emery board.
Rub lotion on the tops and bottoms of feet—but not between the toes—to
prevent cracking and drying.
Wear shoes that fit well. Break in new shoes slowly, by wearing them 1 to 2
hours each day for the first 1 to 2 weeks.
Wear stockings or socks to avoid blisters and sores.
Wear clean, lightly padded socks that fit well; seamless socks are best.
Always wear shoes or slippers, because when you are barefoot it is easy to
step on something and hurt your feet.
Protect your feet from extreme heat and cold.
When sitting, keep the blood flowing to your lower limbs by propping your feet
up and moving your toes and ankles for a few minutes at a time.
Avoid smoking, which reduces blood flow to the feet.
Keep your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol under control by eating
healthy foods, staying active, and taking your diabetes medicines.
See the following for more information:
How can diabetes affect the digestion?
Gastroparesis, otherwise known as delayed gastric emptying, is a disorder where,
due to nerve damage, the stomach takes too long to empty itself. It frequently
occurs in people with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
Symptoms of gastroparesis include heartburn, nausea, vomiting of undigested
food, an early feeling of fullness when eating, weight loss, abdominal bloating,
erratic blood glucose levels, lack of appetite, gastroesophageal reflux, and
spasms of the stomach wall.
See the following for more information:
How can diabetes affect oral
health?
Because of high blood glucose, people with diabetes are more likely to have
problems with their teeth and gums. And like all infections, dental infections
can make your blood glucose go up. Sore, swollen, and red gums that bleed when
you brush your teeth are a sign of a dental problem called gingivitis. Another
problem, called periodontitis, happens when your gums shrink or pull away from
your teeth.
People with diabetes can have tooth and gum problems more often if their blood
glucose stays high. Also, smoking makes it more likely for you to get a bad
case of gum disease, especially if you have diabetes and are age 45 or older.
People with diabetes are also prone to other mouth problems, like fungal infections,
poor post-surgery healing, and dry mouth.
See the following for more information::
How can I keep my mouth, gums,
and teeth healthy if I have diabetes?
You can help maintain your oral health by keeping your blood glucose as close
to normal as possible, brushing your teeth at least twice a day, and flossing
once a day. Keep any dentures clean. Get a dental cleaning and exam twice a
year, and tell your dentist that you have diabetes. Call your dentist with any
problems, such as gums that are red, sore, bleeding, or pulling away from the
teeth; any possible tooth infection; or soreness from dentures.
See the following for more information: Prevent
Diabetes Problems: Keep Your Teeth and Gums Healthy from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial
Research
How can diabetes affect my sexual
response?
Many people with diabetic nerve damage have trouble having sex. For example,
men can have trouble maintaining an erection and ejaculating. Women can have
trouble with sexual response and vaginal lubrication. Both men and women with
diabetes can get urinary tract infections and bladder problems more often than
average.
See the following for more information:
How can diabetes affect my mood?
Several studies suggest that diabetes doubles the risk of depression, although
it’s still unclear why. The psychological stress of having diabetes may contribute
to depression, but diabetes’ metabolic effect on brain function may also play
a role. At the same time, people with depression may be more likely to develop
diabetes.
The risk of depression increases as more diabetes complications develop. When
you are depressed, you do not function as well, physically or mentally; this makes
you less likely to eat properly, exercise, and take your medication regularly.
Psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of both can treat depression effectively.
In addition, studies show that successful treatment for depression also helps
improve blood glucose control.
See the following for more information:
How does diabetes affect how
I respond to a cold or flu?
Being sick by itself can raise your blood glucose. Moreover, illness can prevent
you from eating properly, which further affects blood glucose.
In addition, diabetes can make the immune system more vulnerable to severe
cases of the flu. People with diabetes who come down with the flu may become
very sick and may even have to go to a hospital. You can help keep yourself
from getting the flu by getting a flu shot every year. Everyone with diabetes—even
pregnant women—should get a yearly flu shot. The best time to get one is between
October and mid-November, before the flu season begins.
See the following for more information:
What should I do when I am sick?
Be sure to continue taking your diabetes pills or insulin. Don’t stop taking
them even if you can’t eat. Your health care provider may even advise you to
take more insulin during sickness.
Test your blood glucose every four hours, and keep track of the results.
Drink extra (calorie-free) liquids, and try to eat as you normally would. If
you can’t, try to have soft foods and liquids containing the equivalent amount
of carbohydrates that you usually consume.
Weigh yourself every day. Losing weight without trying is a sign of high blood
glucose.
Check your temperature every morning and evening. A fever may be a sign of
infection.
Call your health care provider or go to an emergency room if any of the
following happen
to you:
- You feel too sick to eat normally and are unable to
keep down food for more than 6 hours.
- You're having severe diarrhea.
- You lose 5 pounds or more.
- Your temperature is over 101 degrees F.
- Your blood glucose is lower than 60 mg/dL or
remains over 300 mg/dL.
- You have moderate or large amounts of ketones in
your urine.
- You're having trouble breathing.
- You feel sleepy or can't think clearly.
See the following for more information:
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Page last reviewed: July 12, 2007
Page last modified: June 27, 2006
Content Source: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Division of Diabetes Translation
|
Diabetes & Me
PDF - 130 KB), a chapter from “Diabetes in America,” published by the National
Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases