Jakarta –
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is defined as a disease or chronic metabolic disorder with multiple etiologies which is characterized by high blood sugar levels accompanied by disorders of carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism as a result of insulin function insufficiency.
Insufficiency of insulin function can be caused by interference or deficiency in insulin production by the Langerhans beta cells of the pancreatic gland, or caused by a lack of responsiveness of the body’s cells to insulin.
Quoted from the Cleveland Clinic, diabetes mellitus is divided into two types, namely type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Of the two types, type 2 diabetes is the most common type.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body’s cells become less sensitive to insulin. Generally, this condition is caused by blood sugar (glucose) levels that are too high.
If diabetes is not treated immediately, this condition can trigger complications in the future. At a more severe level, diabetes complications can cause heart disease and even stroke.
Diabetes Complications
1. Retinopathy
Diabetes complications can attack the eye organs. This condition is usually called diabetic retinopathy, and can cause blindness.
Retinopathy occurs when the retina of the eye does not receive enough blood and oxygen. In people with diabetes, this is usually triggered by blockage of blood vessels due to excessive sugar levels.
Diabetic retinopathy can cause symptoms in the form of black spots in vision, pain in the eyes, and floating spots in vision.
2. Swelling in the Legs
Swollen feet are a fairly common complication of diabetes. This condition is also known as edema.
Quoted from Very Well Health, edema is a condition when fluid accumulates in the legs, causing swelling. When you have diabetes, blood circulation in the body will be disrupted, making it difficult for wounds to heal. This condition makes fluid easily trapped in one part of the body, such as the legs, and triggers edema.
Edema in the legs can cause pain, difficulty standing or walking, or even depression due to not being able to move much or leave the house.
3. Nephropathy
One of the complications of diabetes that can attack the kidneys is diabetic nephropathy. Diabetic nephropathy can be experienced by people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
Diabetic nephropathy itself occurs when the nephrons, the part of the kidney that functions to filter toxins, are damaged due to diabetes. As a result, protein becomes unfiltered and can be wasted with urine.
Apart from that, damage to the nephrons can also trigger hypertension or increased blood pressure in people with diabetes.
4. Nerve Damage
Nerve damage due to diabetes complications is also known as diabetic neuropathy. This condition occurs due to weakening of the blood vessel walls that supply blood and oxygen to nerve cells, causing damage. Weakening of the blood vessel walls is caused by high blood sugar levels.
If diabetic neuropathy and diabetes are not treated immediately, they can cause infections that can lead to amputations, joint damage and urinary tract problems.
5. Heart Disease
Diabetes is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, such as heart disease. Why?
Quoted from the Heart Foundation page, excess glucose flowing in the blood can cause damage to blood vessels. This puts people with diabetes at a high risk of having a heart attack.
Apart from that, damage to blood vessels can also increase blood pressure and trigger atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition that occurs due to fat accumulating on the walls of the coronary blood vessels, thus forming plaque which causes blockages.
6. Stroke
Apart from heart disease, another cardiovascular disorder that can occur due to diabetes is stroke. Stroke is one of the highest contributors to death, both in the world and in Indonesia.
As previously explained, high blood sugar levels can trigger atherosclerosis or the accumulation of fat in blood vessels. If atherosclerosis occurs in the blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the brain, then people with diabetes have a high risk of experiencing a stroke.
7. Sexual Dysfunction in Men
The final complication of diabetes is that it can cause sexual dysfunction in men. As previously explained, people with diabetes are susceptible to blocked blood vessels due to blood sugar levels that are too high.
When the penis is stimulated, the blood vessels will dilate so that more blood can flow and make the organ harden. But if these blood vessels are blocked, the penis will not get enough blood supply so it cannot have an erection. This is what triggers sexual dysfunction in men with diabetes.
Watch the video “Beware of Diabetes in Children”
(ath/suc)
2023-11-07 09:30:05
#Diabetes #Complications #Watch #Eye #Disease #Stroke
