Diabetes II
Also called: Adult onset diabetes, Non-insulin dependent diabetes, “Sugar”
Diabetes is a disease in which your blood glucose, or sugar, levels are too
high. Glucose comes from the foods you eat. Insulin is a hormone that
helps the glucose get into your cells to give them energy. With Type 2 diabetes, the more common type, your body does not make or use insulin well. Without enough insulin, theglucose stays in your blood.
Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can cause serious problems. It can damage your eyes, kidneys, and nerves.
Diabetes can also cause heart disease, stroke and even the need to
remove a limb. Pregnant women can also get diabetes, called gestational diabetes.
Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes may include fatigue, thirst, weight
loss, blurred vision and frequent urination. Some people have no
symptoms. A blood test can show if you have diabetes. Exercise, weight
control and sticking to your meal plan can help control your diabetes.
You should also monitor your glucose level and take medicine if
prescribed
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Nerve damage
Nerve damage (also called diabetic neuropathy) makes it hard for your nervesto send messages to the brain and other parts of the body. If you have
nerve damage, you may lose feeling in parts of your body or have a painful tingling feeling.
Neuropathy most often affects the feetand legs. If you have neuropathy,you may not be able to feel a sore on your foot. The sore can become infected and, in serious cases, the footmay have to be amputated (removed). People who have neuropathy may
continue walking on a foot that has damaged joints or bones. This can
lead to a condition called Charcot foot that causes the injured foot tobecome deformed. However, this problem can often be avoided.
If you have diabetes, check your feet every day. If you see swelling and
redness and feel warmth in your foot, see your doctor immediately.
These can be signs of Charcot foot. Your doctor should also check your
feet at least once a year.
Eye problems
The retina is the part of the eye that is sensitive to light and helps you
see. Diabetes can damage and weaken the small blood vessels in the
retina. This damage is called diabetic retinopathy.
When theblood vessels are weak, they can leak fluid. This causes swelling in the eye that blurs your vision. If retinopathy gets worse, it may lead to blindness by causing your retina to break away from the back of the eye.
Laser surgery can often be used to treat or slow down
retinopathy, especially if the problem is found early. People who have
diabetes should have an eye exam once a year.
Warning signs of eye problems
Call your doctor if you have:
Burred vision for more than 2 days
Sudden loss of vision in 1 or both eyeslack spots, cobwebs or flashing lights in your vision
Redness in your eye
Pain or Pressure in your eye
MedlinePlus:Diabetes and Complications