Type 2 diabetes can lead to a variety of comorbidities, which are additional health problems that occur more frequently in people with this condition due to its long-term effects on the body, especially if blood sugar levels are not well-managed.
Whilst I am not a fan of scare tactics, the reason I took my diagnosis seriously and attempted to reverse my high bloos sugar was in part due to the issues that Diabetics can encounter. Combined with my high blood pressure and blood thinning medication I didn’t want to gamble my health any longer.
Common Comorbities with Diabetes Type Two
Here are some common comorbidities associated with type 2 diabetes. This is not an exhaustive list but are some of the things to watch out for.
Cardiovascular Disease
Diabetes significantly increases the risk of various cardiovascular problems, including coronary artery disease with chest pain (angina), heart attack, stroke, and narrowing of arteries (atherosclerosis). This is because diabetes contributes to the buildup of plaques in your arteries, which can restrict blood flow.
Nerve Damage (Neuropathy)
Excess sugar can injure the walls of the tiny blood vessels (capillaries) that nourish your nerves, especially in the legs. This can cause tingling, numbness, burning, or pain that usually begins at the tips of the toes or fingers and gradually spreads upward.
Kidney Damage (Nephropathy)
Diabetes can damage the system of tiny blood vessels in the kidneys that filter waste from your blood. Severe damage can lead to kidney failure or irreversible end-stage kidney disease, which may require dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Due to the medication I already take, my kidneys were already being monitored, yet another wake up call to sort out my life style.
Eye Damage
Diabetes increases the risk of serious eye diseases, such as cataracts, glaucoma, and the most severe, diabetic retinopathy, which can cause blindness.
Regular eye tests and monitoring are required, my prescription worsened due to high blood sugar and as I got it under control, I was able to reverse my prescrption back to pre diabetes levels.
Foot Damage
Nerve damage in the feet or poor blood flow to the feet increases the risk of various foot complications. Cuts and blisters can develop serious infections that ultimately require toe, foot, or leg amputation.
Skin Issues
Diabetes may leave you more susceptible to skin problems, including bacterial and fungal infections.
Taking blood thinners mean any cuts will take longer to stop bleedng but Diabetes also causes delay in healing, particularly noticed this with bug bites. Try not to scratch them but I cannot always claim to do so and this means they can last for weeks.
Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is common in people with type 2 diabetes. Obesity may be the main linking factor. Treating sleep apnea may help control blood sugar levels.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Type 2 diabetes may increase the risk of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease. The poorer your blood sugar control, the greater the risk appears to be.
Mental Health
Depression, anxiety, and distress are more common in people with diabetes. Managing a chronic disease can be challenging and may lead to feelings of isolation and stress.
Conclusion
The above list is not guaranteed and there may be further complications, in short the main thing to focus is on managing your blood sugar levels on a consistent basis. Its a joruney that you’re on and as such take each day it comes, make goals and targets if you have a bad day, think tomorrow can be better.
I have faith that you can get your condition under control.