Complications of Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease characterized by elevated blood glucose levels. This disease can progress slowly or quickly, and can lead to various complications. Complications of diabetes mellitus may occur in the early stages of the disease or may not appear for a long time. In this article, we will look at some of the most common complications of diabetes.

One of the acute complications of diabetes mellitus is a hyperglycemic crisis. This is an emergency condition associated with a sharp increase in blood glucose levels. The first signs of a crisis may include headache, nausea, insomnia, loss of appetite and loss of energy. After a few hours or days, a smell of acetone from the mouth and shortness of breath may appear, turning into very deep, frequent and noisy breathing. If emergency medical care is not provided, the patient may fall into a diabetic coma and die.

Both types of diabetes can lead to damage to large and small vessels. Atherosclerosis in diabetic patients is much more often complicated by coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular accidents and blockage of the arteries of the legs (“intermittent claudication”), sometimes leading to gangrene. Changes in small and minute arteries are characteristic of diabetes mellitus of both types. These changes are especially pronounced in the retina of the eye (decrease and sometimes loss of vision) and in the kidneys (specific diabetic kidney damage, sometimes complicated by renal failure).

Diabetes is also characterized by multiple nerve damage (polyneuritis), accompanied by sensory disturbances, a feeling of numbness, crawling, pain in the arms and legs, and loss of the “sense of vibration.” Patients with diabetes mellitus are also sensitive to purulent infection, which most often manifests itself as skin lesions (superficial ulcers, boils and confluent boils - carbuncles); as well as pulmonary tuberculosis.

In order to avoid possible complications of diabetes, it is necessary to lead a healthy lifestyle and eat right. Monitoring your blood and urine sugar levels, taking medications if necessary, eating a healthy diet and controlling your weight, regular exercise, avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol in moderation will also help reduce the risk of complications. Regular visits to your doctor and adherence to diabetes treatment and control are also important factors in preventing possible complications.