Diabetes is a medical condition in which your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels are too high. Glucose is vitally important to our health because it provides energy and fuel to our body. But when the blood glucose is out of proportion, it can eventually damage the nerves and blood vessels.
As per the latest data (2015), approximately 9.4% of the U.S. population has diabetes – or about 30.3 million American adults – according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). Plus, more than 84 million adults were estimated to have prediabetes. Diabetes remains the seventh leading cause of death in the United States.
The most common type of diabetes, which is type 2 diabetes, can be controlled to some degree. Let’s talk about how this disease can affect vein health and what you can do about it.
One of the health complications that a diabetic patient may encounter are vascular problems. Vein complications usually happen when the patient’s diabetes makes it difficult for the blood to circulate properly.
Here are some of the vascular complications that a diabetic patient might experience if their diabetes is not effectively managed:
Diabetes can affect the blood vessels of the kidney, which may lead to kidney failure. Renovascular conditions usually do not show any symptoms in the beginning, but it is not reversible when it worsens.
Diabetic eye occurs when the tiny blood vessels in the retina become swollen, causing oxygen supply to be blocked. This is a progressive condition, and the first symptom is usually blurred vision. If the condition is left untreated, it can cause blindness.
Diabetes can cause nerve damage due to hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). This occurs when the blood flow to the nerves decreases, thereby causing damage to small blood vessels.
Diabetic neuropathy is one of the most common complications of diabetes. It can lead to sensory loss and damage to one or more limbs. When the patient cannot feel pain, a resulting infection may be left untreated – and it may develop into a life-threatening infection.
For patients with diabetes, it is common to have foot problems that can lead to infection and serious complications, such as foot ulcers. If a diabetic’s foot becomes too infected, it may require amputation to save the patient’s life. Diabetic foot is therefore one of the costliest complications of diabetes.
Diabetes can weaken the blood vessels, which can lead to a severe infection. To prevent this from occurring, it is best to maintain and optimize the diabetic patient’s nerve health.
If you are looking for a trusted vascular physician in the Tampa/St. Pete and Largo area, look no further than Premier Vein & Vascular. Contact us today by calling (888) VEINCARE (834-6227) for a free consultation, or fill out our online appointment request form now. Let us be your partner in health, so you can live life to the fullest!
