Diabetes and organ health: How high blood sugar affects your vital organs
Diabetes mellitus, if unmanaged, can damage the heart, kidneys, nerves, and eyes. Hyperglycaemia and glucotoxicity are key contributors to complications, but timely treatment and lifestyle changes can reduce serious risks
Understanding Diabetes Mellitus A group of diseases that result in increased blood sugar levels is known as diabetes mellitus. It is a long-term metabolic disorder, which often occurs because of the inability of insulin to control the blood sugar levels, either due to reduced availability or decreased efficacy. (Image: Canva)
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Role of Insulin Insulin is a hormone that is synthesised in the beta-cells of pancreas, and is responsible for controlling the blood sugar levels. It is often released after a meal, and it works in a way that allows the cells to take up the blood glucose. (Image: Canva)
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Consequences of Uncontrolled Blood Sugar If left untreated over a course of time, this state of increased blood sugar levels can lead to a number of complications, some of which may be life-threatening. Diabetes can affect various systems of the body, and involve crucial structures like the kidneys, the blood vessels, the eyes, and even the nerves. (Image: Canva)
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Hyperglycemia and Glucotoxicity Hyperglycemia is the underlying pathology that subsequently leads to the long-term complications of diabetes mellitus. Glucotoxicity is one of the main mediators for the damage to various organs in the body that get affected in this condition. (Image: Canva)
Common Symptoms of Hyperglycemia Hyperglycemia can present with symptoms like excessive thirst, a feeling of dryness in the oral cavity, increased frequency of micturition, especially during night-time. The affected individual may also experience tiredness and fatigue, along with lethargy and weight loss. (Image: Canva)
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Cardiovascular Complications in Diabetes Cardiovascular morbidities are not uncommon in people with long-term diabetes who have not been keeping their blood sugar levels under control. Accelerated atherosclerosis is one of the main complications, which is severe, and is seen at an earlier age. (Image: Canva)
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Risk of Myocardial Infarction and Gangrene Atherosclerosis (plaque-deposition in the blood vessels) of the coronary arteries (arteries that supply the heart) in people with chronic diabetes can result in a myocardial infarction. Another dreaded complication of such a Hyperglycemia state is gangrene. (Image: Canva)
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Diabetic Foot and Sensory Loss Gangrene in the upper or lower extremities occurs as a result of excessive vascular damage in people with uncontrolled diabetes. Diabetic out/ulcer is quite common, and the sensory loss (due to nerve damage) only worsens the condition as the affected person is unable to gauge the intensity of their wound. (Image: Canva)
Kidney Damage: Diabetic Nephropathy Kidneys are not spared by diabetes. Diabetic nephropathy refers to collective lesions that occur in a diabetic kidney, which is one of the leading causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease. It is more commonly seen in type 1 diabetes mellitus as opposed to type 2. (Image: Canva)
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Importance of Blood Sugar Control and Lifestyle Changes Keeping blood sugar levels under check is necessary, and so is periodic evaluation, so as to rule out complications. Inculcating exercise in daily life, and eating foods with low glycemic index is often recommended. Taking the advised medications on time, and charting the daily glucose levels may help keep a track. (Image: Canva)
Rajeshwaari Kalla is a freelance health and wellness writer
