A life with Type-2 Diabetes can sometimes feel like an uphill struggle. It takes considerable effort to eat healthily, keep a constant eye on your dipping blood sugar levels, exercise to keep up healthy cardiac activity as well as remember to medicate yourself.

But the truth of the matter is that all of these precautions can and will make the difference in your fight against diabetes and help to avoid some of its worst side effects.

 

Common Risks and Complications of Type-2 Diabetes 

Diseases like Type 2 diabetes can cause a host of long term problems due to issues like glucose level imbalances. Here are some common complications of diabetes.  

 

1. Diabetes Can Cause Nerve damage

   
   Neuropathy or nerve damage is a common side effect of diabetes. It is characterised by a numbing or painful feeling that mostly occurs near your hands and feet but can affect other parts of your body as well; this is called Peripheral Neuropathy. Autonomic Neuropathy is another form of nerve damage which as the name suggests, affects your autonomic functions like digestion, urination and other automatic body functions. Your chances of getting neuropathy can be drastically reduced by regulating your weight, blood sugar and blood pressure levels.
   

2. Glaucoma and Other Vision Problems

   
   
   
   Diabetics often get diagnosed with debilitating vision problems like Glaucoma (blindness caused by an increase in eye fluid pressure) and Cataracts (blindness caused by a cloudy lens). Another condition associated with diabetes is Diabetic Retinopathy (Retinal Blood vessel damage). Consult your doctor if you are a diabetic and or if you find any telling signs of eye irritation.
   

3. Candidiasis (Thrush) and Other Oral Diseases

   
   Diabetes can also leave you vulnerable to fungal diseases of the gums like Candidiasis (Thrush), which can lead to mouth sores and other infections. People with high blood sugar can face the risk of losing their teeth to plaque and oral cavities. Practise good oral hygiene, like flossing and brushing your teeth twice a day. Also, make visits to your dentist every six months to catch early signs, like bleeding gums, that could be indicative of underlying oral disease.
   

4. Risk of Infection

   
   
   
   Diabetics usually face increased risks of developing infections in the mouth, lungs, urinary tract, in addition to yeast infections in women. It is therefore important to maintain good personal hygiene when you step outdoors in the flu season.
   

5. Risk of Stroke

   
   A stroke is a form of brain damage caused due to insufficient blood flow to the brain. Typically, strokes are more common in the elderly, but diabetics are at a higher risk of getting strokes, regardless of age. Unfortunately, a stroke can lead to permanent damage, therefore it’s essential to keep a track of your cholesterol, blood pressure and sugar levels as they are reliable barometers of your health.
   
   Exercise regularly and avoid smoking to further reduce your risk of a stroke.
   

6. Diabetes and Heart Disease

   
   
   
   Blood vessel damage due to Diabetes can put an undue strain on your heart in the long term. People with diabetes also tend to be overweight, suffer from high blood pressure and have high cholesterol levels.  All that adds up to a serious risk for heart disease. That's why it's key to follow a lifestyle that consists of weight loss measures like exercise, healthy eating, periodic tests (to screen for high cholesterol/ blood pressure) and avoiding harmful habits like smoking.