Diabetes is a typical example of a poison that slowly and quietly damages the body over time. Many people don’t feel the effects immediately, but the damage to the body keeps building up with time. By the time anybody would realize, serious damage may already have been done. See how diabetes slowly damages the body:
High sugar level in the blood damages the walls of blood vessels, making them stiff and narrow. This eventually leads to reduction in blood flow, increasing the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease. Poor circulation of blood also results to wounds healing slowly, making infections more dangerous.
Diabetes can damage the small blood vessels in the eyes, leading to blurry vision, dark spots, or even blindness. High blood sugar in the body also raises the risk of cataracts and glaucoma, making vision problems worse.
Diabetes over time can affect memory and thinking skills. High blood sugar and poor circulation increase the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Diabetes weakens the immune system making people more susceptible to infections and potentially leading to more severe complication from common illness. High sugar levels make it harder for the body to fight infections.
This means diabetic patients are more likely to suffer from frequent infections, gum disease, urinary tract infections, and slow-healing wounds.
Poor circulation in the body makes the skin dry and slow to heal. Wounds, especially on the feet, can turn into serious infections. In extreme cases, untreated infections may lead to amputations.
The kidneys as we all know filter waste from the blood, but high sugar levels damage their tiny filters. In the long run, they stop working properly, leading to kidney disease. Worst case scenario, the kidneys may fail completely, requiring dialysis or a transplant to survive.
High sugar levels in the body affects the nerves, especially in the hands and feet. This causes tingling effect, burning sensation, numbness, or pain. With time, the lack of feeling can lead to unnoticed injuries, infections, and, in severe cases, amputations.
Diabetes does not destroy the body overnight, it happens slowly, over time.
The best way to stop this damage is to keep blood sugar under control, eat well, exercise, and follow medical advice.
Prevention and early management matter is important. Make sure to be checking your sugar level regularly.
