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9 Fruits You Should Be Eating And 8 You Shouldn’t If You Are DiabeticBlood sugar control and overall wellbeing -
Dental and gum infections can also lead to high blood glucose levels. Poor oral care can cause the gums to become inflamed and loosen around your teeth. It's also strongly linked with an increased risk of heart disease. To reduce your risk of teeth and gum problems:.
Living with and managing either type 1 or type 2 diabetes can lead to stress, anxiety and depression. This can affect your blood glucose levels and how you manage your diabetes in general.
Over time, this can affect your health. It is important to talk to your doctor if you are going through times of stress, depression or anxiety.
Your doctor can refer you to a counsellor or psychologist by providing a diabetes mental health plan. This is Medicare rebated. Other help is available, including:.
Your immune system helps to prevent and fight infection. High blood glucose levels slow down the white blood cells, which help fight infection. This makes it more difficult for the immune system to do its job.
Support your immune system and reduce your risk of infection by:. People with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of thyroid disease. This includes both overactive and underactive thyroid.
Thyroid disorders can affect general health and may affect blood glucose levels. Thyroid function is assessed by a blood test. Talk to your doctor to see if you have had your thyroid function checked. Reduced blood supply and nerve damage can affect sexual function.
Erectile dysfunction impotence in men is the persistent inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance. This is a common problem for men of all ages and is more common in men with diabetes. Erectile dysfunction is not a disease, but a symptom of some other problem — physical, psychological or a mixture of both.
Most cases of erectile dysfunction are physical, such as nerve or blood vessel damage. In women, sexual dysfunction is also reported, although there is a lack of research in this area. It is difficult to know whether this is directly related to hormonal changes such as menopause, or to diabetes.
It is important to seek help from your doctor, diabetes educator or organisations such as Healthy Male — Andrology Australia External Link.
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Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. About diabetes — long-term effects Reducing the long-term effects of diabetes Diabetes and healthy eating Alcohol intake and diabetes Diabetes and healthy weight Regular diabetes screening checks Long-term effects of diabetes Diabetes and cardiovascular disease Eyes and diabetes Kidneys and diabetes Nerves and diabetes Feet and diabetes Skin and diabetes Oral health and diabetes Mental health and diabetes Diabetes and infections Thyroid and diabetes Sexual function and diabetes Where to get help.
About diabetes — long-term effects Diabetes is a condition in which there is too much glucose a type of sugar in the blood. Reducing the long-term effects of diabetes The good news is that you can reduce the risk of the long-term effects of diabetes by keeping blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol levels within recommended range.
Regular check-ups and screening are important to pick up any problems early. Alcohol intake and diabetes Limit alcohol intake.
Diabetes and healthy weight If you are overweight, even losing a small amount of weight, especially around the abdomen, helps to lower your blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol levels. Diabetes and exercise Be as active as possible. Smoking and diabetes Smoking is the greatest single lifestyle risk factor for developing diabetes complications.
Regular diabetes screening checks You can help pick up problems early by having regular checks of your: blood pressure blood glucose levels including HbA1c cholesterol and triglycerides kidney function eyes feet teeth and gums.
Blood pressure checks Have your blood pressure checked every time you visit your doctor or at least twice a year. Blood glucose checks Keeping your blood glucose levels within the recommended range can help reduce your risk of long-term diabetes-related health problems.
Cholesterol and triglyceride tests Have a cholesterol and triglyceride test at least once a year. Long-term effects of diabetes The most common long-term diabetes-related health problems are: damage to the large blood vessels of the heart, brain and legs macrovascular complications damage to the small blood vessels, causing problems in the eyes, kidneys, feet and nerves microvascular complications.
Diabetes and cardiovascular disease Cardiovascular disease includes blood vessel disease, heart attack and stroke. To reduce your risk and pick up any problems early: Have your blood pressure checked at least every six months, or more often if you have high blood pressure or are taking medication to lower your blood pressure.
Have your HbA1c checked at least every year, or three- to six-monthly if recommended. Have your cholesterol checked at least every year. Further pathology tests such as an electrocardiogram ECG or exercise stress test may also be recommended by your doctor.
Eyes and diabetes Diabetes-related eye problems include: retinopathy — retinopathy is when blood vessels in the retina become damaged which eventually affects your vision.
Retinopathy has various stages. In its early stages, there are usually no symptoms, so having a full diabetes eye check is essential to detect it early. Regular eye checks help detect any changes and allow for early treatment where needed to prevent further damage macular oedema — the macula is part of the retina and helps you to see things clearly.
Swelling of this area can happen when the blood vessels in the retina are damaged, causing fluid to build up.
This can lead to the macula being damaged and vision may become blurry. Treatment is available. Early detection is important cataracts — the lens of the eye becomes cloudy and can cause vision to become cloudy, distorted or sensitive to glare.
People with diabetes can develop cataracts at an earlier age than usual glaucoma — the pressure of the fluid within the eye builds up to a higher level than is healthy. This pressure can damage the eye over time. Glaucoma occurs in people with and without diabetes, but is more common in people with diabetes.
Regular eye checks Everyone with diabetes should have a professional eye examination by an ophthalmologist or optometrist when they are first diagnosed, and then at least every two years after that children usually start this screening five years after diagnosis or at puberty.
Kidneys and diabetes People with diabetes are at risk of kidney disease nephropathy due to changes in the small blood vessels of the kidneys. Nerves and diabetes Nerve damage neuropathy is usually caused by high blood glucose levels, although similar nerve damage can also result from: drinking large amounts of alcohol vitamin B12 deficiency — long-term use of the diabetes medication Metformin over three to five years can increase the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency.
Your doctor may test for this. To help prevent nerve damage: Keep your blood glucose levels in target range. If you drink alcohol, keep within the recommended guidelines. Don't smoke. Talk to your doctor about any problems you have with your hands, arms, feet, or legs, your stomach, bowels, or bladder.
Feet and diabetes The feet of someone with diabetes are at risk of damage when the blood supply in both large and small blood vessels is reduced.
Look after your feet by: seeing a podiatrist at least once a year. They will assess the health of your feet by checking the blood supply and nerve function and looking for changes in the structure of your feet checking your feet every day get someone to help you if you are unable to check them yourself.
Look for cuts, blisters, calluses, corns, tinea especially between the toes and any changes you notice. If treated early and without delay, you can help prevent complications occurring using a moisturiser such as sorbolene , especially if you have areas of dry, rough or cracked skin on your feet and heels — this can help keep your feet healthy protecting your feet by wearing comfortable, supportive shoes that fit well.
Skin and diabetes People with diabetes may experience very dry skin due to damage to the small blood vessels and nerves. To reduce the risk of skin problems: Keep your blood glucose and HbA1c within recommended ranges to reduce the risk of skin infections.
Wear gloves when you use household cleaners and solvents. Avoid very hot baths and showers. Do not have your feet too close to heaters , especially if you have peripheral neuropathy, as you may not be able to feel the intensity of the heat. Use a cream or lotion on your skin after bathing, preferably one that is not perfumed.
Use non-scented soaps or soap alternatives. If you notice you have a skin problem, see your doctor. Oral health and diabetes People with poorly managed diabetes are at increased risk of tooth decay and gum infections.
To reduce your risk of teeth and gum problems: See your dentist regularly six monthly for a check-up. Brush your teeth at least twice a day a soft toothbrush is generally recommended and floss once a day. If you have dentures, make sure you brush your dentures and gums with a soft toothbrush.
Mental health and diabetes Living with and managing either type 1 or type 2 diabetes can lead to stress, anxiety and depression.
Other help is available, including: Lifeline External Link Tel. If you're taking insulin, your risk of developing hypoglycemia may be highest six to 12 hours after exercising. Because of the dangers associated with diabetes, always wear a medical alert bracelet indicating that you have diabetes and whether you take insulin.
Also keep hard candy or glucose tablets with you while exercising in case your blood sugar drops precipitously. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content.
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August 2, For people who have diabetes—or almost any other disease, for that matter—the benefits of exercise can't be overstated.
Following are some highlights of those results: Exercise lowered HbA1c values by 0. All forms of exercise—aerobic, resistance, or doing both combined training —were equally good at lowering HbA1c values in people with diabetes.
Resistance training and aerobic exercise both helped to lower insulin resistance in previously sedentary older adults with abdominal obesity at risk for diabetes.
Learn more about the different tools Bloox by people ovetall diabetes. Eating Natural fat metabolism food is part of living a wholesome Natural fat metabolism. However, Body toning at home diabetes augar exclude you from eating your favourite foods or going to your favourite restaurants. But you need to know that different foods affect your blood sugar differently. Activity has many health benefits in addition to losing weight. Physical activity lowers cholesterol, improves blood pressure, lowers stress and anxiety, and improves your mood. New research shows Natural fat metabolism risk of infection from prostate sugarr. Discrimination at clntrol is linked to ooverall blood pressure. Icy fingers and toes: Poor Guarana and blood circulation or Raynaud's phenomenon? For Blood sugar control and overall wellbeing who have diabetes—or almost any other disease, for that matter—the benefits of exercise can't be overstated. Exercise helps control weight, lower blood pressure, lower harmful LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, raise healthy HDL cholesterol, strengthen muscles and bones, reduce anxiety, and improve your general well-being. There are added benefits for people with diabetes: exercise lowers blood glucose levels and boosts your body's sensitivity to insulin, countering insulin resistance.
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