The first week of November is Diabetes Education Week, and it’s a great time to learn why controlling your blood sugar is important to the health and functioning of systems throughout your body.

Many people believe that diabetes simply means you have high blood sugar levels. But it’s what that sugar can do when it stays in the blood system – versus being metabolized – that makes diabetes such a harmful illness. In fact, diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, according to the American Diabetes Association.

Diabetes Basics

Diabetes is a condition that causes high levels of blood glucose (blood sugar). Normally when you eat, your body breaks down glucose during digestion, and insulin helps move the glucose into your cells to be stored for later or used for energy now. The body of a person with diabetes either doesn’t make enough insulin, can’t use the insulin it makes or both. That means there is excess glucose circulating throughout the body.

There are three primary types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2 and gestational. Type 1 diabetes is also called “juvenile diabetes” because it is often diagnosed in younger people. The immune system of people with Type 1 diabetes wrongly attacks the insulin-creating cells in the pancreas. As a result, people with Type 1 diabetes don’t have much – or any – insulin to process glucose.

With Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas makes enough insulin, but the body doesn’t use it correctly, which is called insulin resistance. The pancreas tries to produce more insulin, but it’s not enough to keep blood glucose levels stabilized. Gestational diabetes – which develops during pregnancy – also involves insulin resistance.

Why Uncontrolled Blood Sugar Is Harmful

No matter which type of diabetes a person has, the fact remains that blood sugar levels need to be controlled by a combination of diet, exercise and – potentially – medication.

And if they are not? The National Kidney Foundation uses this analogy: Think about how sticky candy gets when left out on the counter. Now, imagine excess sugar left in your blood. It “sticks” to small blood vessels throughout the body, making it harder for the blood to circulate to organs and other critical systems. Lower blood flow means damage and inflammation, even “death” of tissue.

Here are just some of the problems observed in patients that can be traced back to damaged blood vessels and nerves from unchecked diabetes:

• Heart and vascular system – high blood pressure, heart attack or heart failure
• Eyes – loss of vision
• Ears – loss of hearing
• Mouth – cavities and gum disease
• Brain – stroke or memory loss
• Feet – increased risk of infected wounds and amputation
• Skin – infections and dark patches, called diabetic dermopathy

Terri Lenigar MSN, FNP-C, WCC, a nurse practitioner and clinical coordinator with the Wound Care Center at Aultman Alliance Community Hospital, explains how wounds throughout the body can prove to be problematic for patients with uncontrolled diabetes.

“Wounds can be at risk for slower healing and increased chance of infection,” she said. “Changes in immune function may alter the body’s ability to fight off infection.”

With uncontrolled diabetes, wounds may also be stuck in the inflammatory phase. “This can limit the tissue’s ability to rebuild/heal/repair,” Lenigar said. “When the wound does heal, you can see weaker scar tissue from poor collagen formation. Any of these problems can then lead to more extensive problems causing gangrene, amputation and/or loss of life.”

What You Can Do

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, it’s important to follow your healthcare team’s instructions for diet, exercise, medication and regular testing of blood sugar levels. And if you do not have diabetes, it’s still important to have annual blood work performed to check for any changes that could signal diabetes.

Looking for a Primary Care Provider?

Aultman Medical Group Primary Care has many providers ready to take care of you and your family. Many of our offices are accepting new patients – and more than likely, we have a location in your community.

Visit aultman.org/NewDoc to find a provider in your area who is accepting new patients, or call the new patient hotline at 330-433-1264 for assistance with scheduling your appointment.

Sources:
American Diabetes Association
American Academy of Dermatology
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Kidney Foundation