Behemoth Droppings

So for the second installment of my Diabetes Awareness Month set of blogs, I decided to discuss complications. A lot of people think that if a type I diabetic takes insulin, then everything is fine. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In truth, diabetes can cause a number of complications. The longer a diabetic goes without keeping their blood-sugar levels under control and within the normal range, the greater the risk is that they will develop complications from diabetes later in life. These complications can be as simple as a skin disorder to as serious as heart problems. Yes, if not kept in check, diabetes can kill you. Again, I think a lot of people I know don’t think of diabetes as being as serious as it really is because I have always taken care of myself and don’t make a lot of fuss about it.

So I have listed below a list of types of complications that can arise from diabetes. I took this from an article that was published on the American Diabetes Association’s website. If you go to the original article, then you can click on each type of complication to get more information on each one. So, here ya go…Type I Diabetes Complications:

Heart Disease
People with diabetes have extra reason to be mindful of heart and blood vessel disease. Diabetes carries an increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and complications related to poor circulation.

Kidney Disease (Nephropathy)/Kidney Transplantation
Diabetes can damage the kidneys, which not only can cause them to fail, but can also make them lose their ability to filter out waste products. This is called nephropathy.

Eye Complications
Diabetes can cause eye problems and may lead to blindness. People with diabetes do have a higher risk of blindness than people without diabetes. Early detection and treatment of eye problems can save your sight.

Diabetic Neuropathy and Nerve Damage
One of the most common complications of diabetes is diabetic neuropathy. Neuropathy means damage to the nerves that run throughout the body, connecting the spinal cord to muscles, skin, blood vessels, and other organs.

Foot Complications
People with diabetes can develop many different foot problems. Foot problems most often happen when there is nerve damage in the feet or when blood flow is poor. Learn how to protect your feet by following some basic guidelines.

Skin Complications
As many as one-third of people with diabetes will have a skin disorder caused or affected by diabetes at some time in their lives. In fact, such problems are sometimes the first sign that a person has diabetes. Luckily, most skin conditions can be prevented or easily treated if caught early.

Gastroparesis and Diabetes
Gastroparesis is a disorder that affects people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Depression
Feeling down once in a while is normal. But some people feel a sadness that just won’t go away. Life seems hopeless. Feeling this way most of the day for two weeks or more is a sign of serious depression.

For those of you that don’t know, November is Diabetes Awareness Month. For those of you that don’t know me, I’m a Type I Diabetic. I’ve never really posted much about my diabetes. In fact, I hardly even mention or talk about my diabetes. I know the month is half over, but I thought I’d dedicate a few posts for diabetes awareness. The first thing I want to say is this: Don’t ever assume when you meet a diabetic that they are type II. One of the biggest pet peeves to type I diabetics is when people assume or compare them to type II diabetics. There is no comparison, and it can really offend and upset someone if you do this. If you don’t know the difference, then go check google! With that said, all of my posts will be focused towards type I, or juvenile diabetes.

OK, so here we go. Below is an excerpt (most of it) from an article written by Catherine Marschilok that is posted on the JDRF website. It shows some common myths about diabetes, and the facts behind them. Maybe you’ll learn something. Enjoy!!

myth: Taking insulin cures diabetes.

fact: Taking insulin keeps people with type 1 diabetes alive, but does not cure the disease. While progress toward finding a cure has been substantial, there is still no cure for diabetes.

myth: Diabetes is caused by obesity, or eating too much sugar.

fact: While obesity has been identified as one of the “triggers” for type 2 diabetes, it has no relation to the cause of type 1 diabetes. Scientists do not yet know exactly what causes type 1 diabetes, but they believe that both genetic and environmental factors are involved. Eating too much sugar is not a factor.

myth: With strict adherence to a specific diet and exercise plan, and multiple insulin injections each day based on careful monitoring of blood sugar levels, a person with type 1 diabetes can easily gain tight control over his or her blood sugar levels.

fact: While the above strategy is the most effective way to achieve and maintain tight control of blood sugar levels, optimal blood sugar control can be very difficult for some patients. Many factors, including stress, hormone changes, periods of growth, and illness can easily cause blood sugars to swing out of control. Teenagers, in particular, may be susceptible to this problem, as their bodies go through many changes during adolescence. Also, some people with type 1 find that even though they strive for tight control and follow their meal plan and insulin schedule, they still experience rapid fluctuations in their blood glucose. Those fluctuations do not mean the person with diabetes has done anything wrong.

myth: People with diabetes should never eat sweets.

fact: Limiting sweets will help people with type 1 diabetes keep their blood sugar under control, but, with advice from their doctor or nutritionist, sweets can fit into their meal plan, just as they would for people without diabetes. And there are times when sweets are a must: if the blood sugar level drops too low, sweets (or juice, or soda) can be the surest to raise it, and prevent the onset of hypoglycemia.

myth: People with diabetes can’t engage in athletics.

fact: Physical exercise is important for everyone’s health, and is especially important for people with diabetes. Regular exercise helps lower blood sugar levels and keep them in the target range. There are countless examples of athletes who have had great success, from Olympic Gold Medalist swimmer Gary Hall to baseball great Ron Santo to hockey great Bobby Clarke.

myth: Only kids get type 1 diabetes.

fact: Type 1 diabetes, also known as “juvenile” or “juvenile onset” diabetes, is usually first diagnosed in children, teenagers, or young adults. However, people may develop type 1 diabetes at any age.

myth: Kids don’t get type 2 diabetes.

fact: Though type 2 diabetes is usually diagnosed in adulthood, increased obesity and other factors have led to a recent “epidemic” of this form of diabetes in young adults and children under 10. Still, most children diagnosed with diabetes get type 1.

myth: Women with diabetes shouldn’t get pregnant.

fact: Thanks to advances in diabetes research, the outlook for pregnant women with diabetes is significantly better today than it was a generation ago. However, diabetic pregnancy requires extra effort and commitment, excellent blood sugar control, and education in all areas of diabetes management.

myth: No matter what you do, a person with diabetes for years will eventually get complications.

fact: Complications are not inevitable. The mechanisms that cause complications are not yet fully understood, and the extent to which they develop varies from person to person. Tight blood sugar control is the only method demonstrated to reduce the risk of developing complications, but their occurrence remains unpredictable in any individual. Some individuals with type 1 diabetes may be genetically predisposed to develop complications (one of the critical issues being addressed by JDRF’s research).