Diabetes - How you can Identify and Stop Complications

Finding out how to identify the issues of diabetes in yourself and others can help to save a life. Occasionally diabetes will go undetected, and till there's a problem, the individual doesn't know he or she has diabetes. If a wise friend can see some symptoms before the complications hit, it may give the diabetic an advantage on treatment. It is also smart to learn a few of the signs and symptoms of problems and how to stave them off in yourself.

Below are great tips that will help you prevent and identify diabetes complications.

Prevention

There are several certain actions you can choose to use help avoid complications and keep them from building.

1. Don't smoke cigarettes

Smoking is amongst the worst things a diabetic can do. For starters, smoking constricts arteries, further complicating the compromised circulation that accompanies diabetes anyway. Secondly, smoking increases diabetics' risk of cardiovascular disease and even eyesight problems. Thus a good step toward staving off these complications is to stop smoking cigarettes (or don't start!).

2. Take your medications consistently

To help your body stay on an even keel, it's a good idea to take your prescribed medication as directed. Never self-medicate. If you wish to switch medications or try something different, be sure you do so under the care of a professional.

3. Regular check-ups

Having regular physicals is important, but so are check-ups specifically for your diabetes. Your vision in particular should be monitored to stop vision complications such as glaucoma later on.

4. Maintain a healthy weight

Consuming a healthy, diabetic-specific diet and having adequate regular exercise is key to having a wholesome weight. You don't want to crash-diet, but getting on track using the right foods and activity level is a great place to start.

Recognition

Recognizing difficulties early can help, whether it's an urgent, short-term complication or even a long-term one. Here are some ideas.

Sources say that the body parts most afflicted with diabetes are:

• Eyes
• Kidneys
• Nerves
• Heart and blood vessels
• Gums
• Feet

Watching for abnormalities in these areas of the body is the first step toward recognizing any complications in that area.

1. Neuropathy

Burning, tingling sensations in the hands and feet, razor-sharp night-time pain, and difficulty walking are indications of diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage). Swollen, red feet are also a sign of severe nerve problems.

2. Eyesight problems

If you have blurred eyesight, sudden losses of vision, looks like flashing light or grey, drifting films across your eyes, it can be a sign of diabetic vision complications. Pain and pressure in the eye are also symptoms.

3. Kidney problems

Diabetics are susceptible to kidney problems. Signs and symptoms of kidney complications consist of fatigue, poor concentration, painful urination, and/or edema (puffy swelling) in the abdominal area, around the eyes, or in the ankles and feet.

4. High and low blood sugar levels

Symptoms of very low blood sugar can include nausea, extreme fatigue, confusion, emotional imbalance, and ravenous hunger. High blood sugar may cause excessive thirst, headache, and increased, frequent urination. High and low blood sugar need to be addressed instantly.

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