Diabetes: How it silently impacts liver, kidneys, and heart
is usually considered in the simplistic terms of blood glucose management. However, reality is much more complicated and much more perilous. With over 422 million individuals living with diabetes globally today and 1.5 million deaths directly caused by the disease annually, the condition has become one of the major global health risks, as determined by the World Health Organization
Outside of its signature symptom of high blood glucose, diabetes creeps in quietly to destroy almost every organ system in the body.
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Sometimes, damage starts even years before someone is diagnosed.
One of the most severe complications of diabetes is its effect on the cardiovascular system. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cautions that adults with diabetes are twice as likely to develop heart disease or stroke as those who are not afflicted. High glucose levels over time impair blood vessels and nerves that regulate the heart, speeding up the formation of plaques and resulting in heart attacks, strokes, and peripheral artery disease.
Kidneys are under siege
The kidneys are another silent victim. Diabetes is the leading global cause of kidney failure, reports the WHO. Too much blood sugar slowly destroys the kidneys' filtering units, impairing them from filter out waste from the body. The CDC estimates that nearly one in three individuals with diabetes will develop chronic kidney disease. If not treated early, the condition can advance to needing dialysis or transplantation.
Diabetes also affects the vision
The eyes are also especially at risk. Diabetic retinopathy—caused by damaged blood vessels in the retina—is a major cause of blindness among working adults. Though the disease can be treated if diagnosed early, others are oblivious until sight difficulties become permanent. Individuals with diabetes also experience heightened risks of cataracts and glaucoma.
Nerve damage and Loss of Feeling
Diabetes is also infamous for inducing peripheral neuropathy, a type of nerve damage that begins in the legs and feet.
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The CDC estimates that as many as 50% of those with diabetes experience some type of nerve damage, which can result in numbness, pain, tingling, and loss of sensation. In the worst cases, hidden injuries can result in severe infections and amputations.
Diabetes weakens the body's defense system
High blood glucose damages the immune system and makes people more vulnerable to infections like urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and fungal skin infections. Digestive complications like gastroparesis—sluggish emptying of the stomach—can also happen when nerves in the gut are damaged.
This latest research also points to the neurological complications of diabetes. Individuals with diabetes have a much higher risk of cognitive impairment and types of dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease. Inflammation and reduced circulation to the brain are thought to be contributing factors.
Diabetes is not just a "sugar problem" condition. It is a multi-system disease with the possibility to inflict permanent damage when left uncontrolled. As both the WHO and CDC stress, early detection, frequent monitoring, lifestyle modifications, and adequate medical attention can lower the risk of complications significantly. In a world where diabetes keeps on increasing, knowledge and education are our best prevention measures.
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