Diabetes Complications: Which Organs Are at Risk?

Diabetes affects 23.6 million Americans. This disease is called the silent killer because of the underlying life-threatening complications that can occur while a person with diabetes feels fine. These complications are as a result of the continually uncontrolled blood sugar levels, which eventually affects various parts of the body.

Eyes

• Uncontrolled diabetes subjects the eyes to serious damages such as diabetic retinopathy, the leading cause of blindness, cataracts, and glaucoma.

Heart

• Diabetes can cause havoc to the heart through the narrowing of the arteries and the buildup of plaque blocking the blood vessels, leading to a heart attack.

Brain

• The brain can be severely affected by diabetes when the blood supply is reduced due to damage to blood vessels, causing a stroke.

Kidneys

• Uncontrolled diabetes damages the blood vessels and cell tissue of the kidneys causing hypertension, poor kidney function and end-stage kidney failure.

Nerves

• Nerve damage due to diabetes is called diabetic neuropathy; this can occur in any part of the nervous system, especially in the feet.