Complications of Diabetes

The complications of diabetes usually differ from one person to another. It can arise any where in the body and at any time, i.e., even before diagnosing it or while taking proper treatment. Sometimes heightened dose of diabetic drugs can also cause complications with Hypoglycaemia (lowered sugar level). As both higher and lower sugar levels can damage human body functions or parts, blood sugar level should be always maintained in desirable range. Some people will get alarm of symptoms with changes in values and some other may not.

As a silent killer, diabetes can run its symptoms silently to end in its complications. For example – one might not show any symptoms until he / she develop a heart attack or stroke. So, one need to go for proper analysis and check ups yearly or with any mild discomfort then and there to tackle any presumed complications. Also, in diabetic patients, when there arises any discomfort or tiredness or any alarming symptoms, sufferers should care for those symptoms immediately and should maintain sugar levels at desirable level always. In case of improper care or ignorance, development of damages to heart, kidney, eyes, feet, and skin are inevitable.

Some complications may be very mild (i.e. just tiredness), some may be very annoying (for example - burning pain of feet and hands) and some may be life threatening (for example - coma, heart attack, stroke, etc). Also some complications will be very acute in nature (for example – Coma, Stroke, etc) and some other may be very chronic and slow in progress (for example – Diabetic nephropathy / Renal failure, Diabetic neuropathy, Diabetic Retinopathy, etc). Most often, Diabetic symptoms gets started with tiredness, urinary tract infections or skin lesions. In due course it affects heart, kidney, blood vessels, nerves, fertility, etc.

Common complications in infants / children are

• Jaundice due to hyperbilirubinaemia
• Dullness and poor concentration
• Behaviour problems
• Flabbiness
• Vision problems

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