Overall, the cause of diabetic complications is elevated blood sugar levels. This normally is caused by poor monitoring and management of glucose levels. The diabetic cause of health problems is usually a sedative lifestyle combined with an unhealthy diet. Not keeping a good track of blood sugar levels accelerates these problems. To avoid complications in the future, it is important to maintain regular doctor visits, keep a healthy diet, and exercise a minimum of 30 minutes daily. Checking your blood sugar several times daily is also a key factor.
Cause of Diabetic Neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy is basically nerve damage that occurs in diabetes. The diabetic neuropathy cause is prolonged exposure to high blood glucose levels, according to the National Institutes of Health. Researchers are still studying how exactly this occurs, but think that it is due to a combination of the following factors:
Metabolic factors – high blood glucose levels, a long duration of diabetes, abnormal fat levels in the blood, and low levels of insulin
Neurovascular factors – damage to blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to the nerves
Autoimmune factors – autoimmunity could cause inflammation in the nerves
Lifestyle factors – smoking and alcohol use furthers the risk of nerve damage
Genetic factors – some people may be genetically more susceptible to nerve damage
Cause of Diabetic Coma
Diabetic coma occurs because blood sugars are elevated to high and the body becomes dehydrated. It happens to people with type 2 diabetes. This is different than ketoacidosis, which causes comas in people with type 1 diabetes. Although they have similar symptoms, ketoacidosis is caused by having to many ketone acids in the blood.
According the CDC, diabetic coma happens most often in people over 60. This is because they are more likely to become dehydrated. Excess thirst and urination is a frequent problem in diabetics because of the elevated levels of blood sugar. From this, severe dehydration can eventually occur and lead to shock, coma, or even death.
Cause of Diabetic Retinopathy
The cause of diabetic retinopathy is high blood sugar levels as well. Too much sugar in the bloodstream can damage the tiny blood vessels, or capillaries. When the capillaries which nourish the retina become damaged, it results in vision loss or diabetic retinopathy. Elevated blood sugars may also affect the lenses of the eye by causing them to swell. This is why a common symptom of diabetes is blurred vision.
Advanced diabetic retinopathy or proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is the most severe type. In this case, abnormal blood vessels form and eventually form scar tissue. This can cause the retina to detach overtime. Also, the new blood vessels sometime interfere with the flow of fluid out of the eye. When this occurs, pressure builds up and causes glaucoma. Luckily, regular eye check-ups and blood sugar monitoring can prevent severe problems from manifesting.
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