Complications of Diabetes
Diabetes is associated with an increased risk of developing primarily vascular complications that contribute to morbidity and mortality of diabetic patients. Poor glycaemic control leads to vascular complications that affect large (macrovascular), small (microvascular) vessels or both. Macrovascular complications include coronary heart disease, peripheral vascular disease and stroke. Microvascular complications contribute to diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage), nephropathy (kidney disease) and retinopathy (eye disease).
Macrovascular Complications of Diabetes
Diabetic patients due to common metabolic, coagulation and vascular abnormalities are more prone to arteriosclerosis and ischemic complications (Beckman et al., 2002). Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by migration of T lymphocytes and monocytes to the area of arterial wall injury. This process plays central role in the pathogenesis of the macrovascular disease leading to luminal stenosis (narrowing of arterial walls) in the peripheral or coronary vascular system (Boyle, 2007; Wagenknecht et al., 2003; Wagenknecht et al., 1997). Large-vessel atherosclerosis is thought to result from the hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidaemia, and hyperglycemia which are characteristic for DM. Clinical manifestations include angina pectoris (chest pain) and miocardial infarcts (MI), transient ischemic attacks (TIA), strokes, and peripheral arterial disease. In diabetic patients, production of cytokines diminishes synthesis of collagen in vascular smooth muscle cells and increases production of matrix metalloproteinases, resulting in an increased tendency for plaque destabilization and rupture (van der Wal and Becker, 1999). Atherosclerosis o...
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...use patients are much younger in type 1 than in type 2 diabetes, and stroke is generally attributed to elderly people.
Presence of microvascular complications like microalbuminuria, diabetic retinopathy and autonomic neuropathy further increase the risk for stroke (Cheung et al., 2007a; Miettinen et al., 1996; Toyry et al., 1996; Cohen et al., 2003; Rocco et al., 2010).
Diabetic neuropathy
The word neuropathy is derived from two Latin words: "neuro," referring to the nerve, and "pathy," meaning disease. Diabetic neuropathies are common complications in diabetes that can cause significant morbidity and mortality. Diabetic neuropathy is directly related to the axon length and duration of nerve fibers exposure to hyperglycaemia. Depending on type of neuron fibers affected diabetic neuropathy is classified as: (Edwards et al., 2008; Casellini and Vinik, 2007)
Diabetes is a lifelong disease that can affect both children and adults. This disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. It claims about 178,000 lives each year. Type one diabetes, also known as insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, usually occurs in people less than thirty years of age, but it also may appear at any age. Diabetes is a very serious disease with many life threatening consequences, but if it is taken care of properly, diabetics can live a normal life.
Type I Diabetes are often found or developed in children and young adults. It was previously called “juvenile diabetes”. Type II diabetes are found in adults and can be seen at any age. This is non insulin dependent diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus is also referred to as insulin-dependent as the secretion of the hormone insulin by the pancreas is reduced to minor levels due to the destruction of the pancreatic beta cells by immune system of the body. Therefore, Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune condition due to the fact that the body is harming the pancreas with antibodies so beta cells cannot make any insulin for bloodstream to take in glucose. The fact that the cells in the body cannot take in glucose means that it builds up in the blood and hyperglycaemia occurs. This abnormally high level of blood glucose is able to harm the nervous system, tiny blood vessels in the kidneys, heart and the eyes. Type 1 Diabetes is fatal when left untreated as it then causes heart disease, kidney disease, damage to the nerves, stroke and
The pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus in is related to the insulin hormone. Insulin is secreted by cells in the pancreas and is responsible for regulating the level of glucose in the bloodstream. It also aids the body in breaking down the glucose to be used as energy. When someone suffers from diabetes, however, the body does not break down the glucose in the blood as a result of abnormal insulin metabolism. When there are elevated levels of glucose in the blood, it is known as hyperglycemia. If the levels continue to remain high over an extended period of time, damage can be done to the kidneys, cardiovascular systems; you can get eye disorders, or even cause nerve damage. When the glucose levels are low in one’s body, it is called hypoglycemia. A person begins to feel very jittery, and possibly dizzy. If that occurs over a period of time, the person can possibly faint. Diabetes mellitus occurs in three different forms - type 1, type 2, and gestational.
Neuropathy is classified by the locations of nerves that are affected. It can also be classified by the disease that is causing it. An example of this would be diabetic neuropathy, which is caused by the
Atherosclerosis begins when the inner wall of the artery becomes damaged and cholesterol and fatty plaques begin to lodge in the arteries. Damage to the endothelial wall inside the artery can be caused by hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia (“Subclinical Atherosclerosis..” 443). When this happens, the immune system responds by sending monocytes to the damaged area. The monocytes turn into macrophages; their job is to eat up the excess cholesterol and unblock the artery. The macrophages are unable to digest all of the cholesterol, and as a result turn in to foam cells. When many macrophages are turned into foam cells, plaque results, and protrudes into the arterial wall, restricting blood flow and raising blood pressure (“Atherosclerosis Growth Process.” 8). If the plaque becomes too large it may break, releasing plaque into the blood. This can cause a great reduction in blood flow or a clot, resulting in stroke or myocardial infarction (“Stroke Risk.” 3).
Diabetes is a disease that affects the body’s ability to produce or respond to insulin, a hormone that allows blood glucose (blood sugar) to enter the cells of the body and be used for energy. Diabetes falls into two main categories: type 1, or juvenile diabetes, which usually occurs during childhood or adolescence, and type 2, or adult-onset diabetes, the most common form of the disease, usually occurring after age 40. Type 1 results from the body’s immune system attacking the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The onset of juvenile diabetes is much higher in the winter than in the summer. This association has been repeatedly confirmed in diabetes research. Type 2 is characterized by “insulin resistance,” or an inability of the cells to use insulin, sometimes accompanied by a deficiency in insulin production. There is also sometimes a third type of diabetes considered. It is gestational diabetes, which occurs when the body is not able to properly use insulin during pregnancy. Type 2 diabetes encompasses nine out of 10 diabetic cases. Diabetes is the fifth-deadliest disease in the United States, and it has no cure. The total annual economic cost of diabetes in 2002 was estimated to be $132 billion, or one out of every 10 health care dollars spent in the United States. Diabetes risk factors can fall into three major categories: family history, obesity, and impaired glucose tolerance. Minority groups and elderly are at the greatest risk of developing diabetes.
B.(Sub-point) Type-2 diabetes after a long time can affect the body’s blood vessels leading to damage to both small and big vessels just like Type 1 diabetes. (SUB-SUBPOINT) Damage to the small blood vessel leads to microvascular problems, while harm to the large vessels result in macrovascular effects (Lisa, 2016). Impaired blood vessels do not transfer blood as supposed to, which results in other complications, like vision loss, kidney damage and nerve damage. Macrovascular problems with Type 2 diabetes are a buildup of plaque, which results in a heart attack, blocked vessels in legs and a stroke (Lisa, 2016). Type 1 diabetes has the same complications as Type 2 resulting in the same effect on the important organs in the body, like the heart, nerves, vision, kidneys and both the tiny and large blood vessels ( Mayo Clinic Staff,
Latent diabetic vascular complications are a hallmark of the disease and known to significantly affect the cardiovascular and renal systems. Atherosclerosis is the main reason for decreased life expectancy in patients with diabetes, whereas diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy are the largest contributors to end-stage renal disease and blindness, respectively (37, 56). Current therapy is aimed at managing blood glucose concentrations and increasing insulin resistance. Thus, vascular complication mitigation includes: blood glucose monitoring and lowering, which decreases the risk of nephropathy and retinopathy. Antihypertensive medicine is also utilized to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease, nephropathy, and retinopathy (15, 26). As well, hypertension is closely associated with stroke and pulmonary edema. Despite these advances, diabetes complications and their treatments are aimed at abating symptoms in an effort to improve physiological function.
There are two kinds of diabetes, type 1 and type 2, which have completely different meanings.
Knowing the extensive impact of a new diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes would be helpful in creating a conventional environment for the newly diagnosed. There are many factors that will influence for a positive outcome from such a negative life changing event. Understanding that a chronic illness affects many aspects of one’s life is key to being successful in having control of the disease.
There are three main type of diabetes. They are Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational Diabetes. Type 1 diabetes usually appears during childhood, but it can also occur in adults. This type of diabetes is also known as an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease occurs when the body’s system that fights infection, the immune system, turns against a part of the body. Type 2 diabetes has generic roots, but it is often triggered in women by too much testosterone, a male sex hormone, or a sedentary lifestyle. It is the most common form of diabet...
Diabetic Neuropathy is a group of neurological disorders caused by nerve damage resulting from the effects of type one and type two Diabetes. There are several types of neurological diseases, each affecting the individual differently. Each disorder presents with it's own symptoms, prognosis, and risks. It is important for the diabetic patient to receive adequate education from their physician on the basic signs and symptoms of neuropathy. Early identification and frequent check ups can impact the effects of neuropathy greatly.
Diabetes is a significant and fast growing health concern in the United States. About 16 million Americans have diabetes – and that number increases every day. Every day there is someone who suffers from a diabetic emergency. What is a diabetic emergency? Well, first we must understand what diabetes is. Diabetes is a disease that affects how your body uses blood glucose (or commonly known as blood sugar) your body isn’t able to take the sugar from your bloodstream and carry it to your body cells where it can be used for energy. There are two types of diabetes; Type I (insulin dependent) and Type II (non-insulin dependent). Both types can cause a diabetic emergency. Both types require medical intervention/treatment.
Stroke is a serious medical condition that affects people of all ages specifically older adults. People suffer from a stroke when there is decreased blood flow to the brain. Blood supply decreases due to a blockage or a rupture of a blood vessel which then leads to brain tissues dying. The two types of stroke are ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. An ischemic stroke is caused by a blood clot blocking the artery that brings oxygenated blood to the brain. On the other hand, a hemorrhagic stroke is when an artery in the brain leaks or ruptures (“About Stroke,” 2013). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of adult disability” (“About Stroke,” 2013). Stroke causes a number of disabilities and also leads to decreased mobility in over half of the victims that are 65 and older. The CDC lists several risk factors of stroke such as heredity, age, gender and ethnicity as well as medical conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and excessive weight gain that in...