Diabetic research will cure the disease one day. Until that day comes, researchers are exploring other sides of the Diabetes puzzle. For example, how can they improve quality of life for patients? The answer to that question is to lessen the complications of the disease. While some Diabetic research teams work on prevention, treatment, and a cure for Diabetes, other groups may target how to reduce symptoms of secondary diseases due to Diabetes, such as heart and kidney disease or nerve damage that results in blindness and foot amputation.
When Diabetics have elevated blood sugar levels repeatedly, their insulin is unable to aid the body in absorbing the excess sugar, so it remains in the blood. Usually, insulin would transfer the sugar from the bloodstream into the muscle, fat, and other tissues where it will be used as fuel. When the sugar remains in the bloodstream, it acts like a poison and can cause severe damage to the nerves and organs.
Diabetic Retinopathy Research
Diabetic Retinopathy research is important to review because the majority of diabetics will notice vision loss at some point in their life as their disease progresses. It is estimated that over 24,000 people with Diabetes will become legally blind each year because of Diabetic Retinopathy, which is impaired vision resulting from damage to the retina as a complication of their Diabetes Mellitus. There are rarely any symptoms of this condition until it is almost too late to take action, so any research on this topic is vital in saving and possibly restoring sight for Diabetic sufferers.
The Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network is making Diabetic eye disease their number one priority. They are a massive organization founded in 2002 by the National Eye Institute, which is a subsidiary of the National Institutes for Health and all three organizations are funded by the United States government. This organization consists of over 100 offices and over 300 hundred physicians who collaborate to investigate retinal disorders. They mainly focus on Diabetic Retinopathy, Macular Edema, and closely related conditions through clinical trials and other research initiatives.
Diabetic Neuropathy Research
Diabetic Neuropathy research is critical to Diabetic community as at least 60% of Diabetics suffer from extensive nerve damage to one or several areas of their body, while 20% of Diabetics will be hospitalized due to problems with their feet, including ulcers and infections resulting from Neuropathy. At least 6% of Diabetics report ulcers each year and of those people, many will experience infected ulcers that do not heal and require amputation. This group of people is large at 40,000, but the sad fact is that experts believe more than half of them could have been prevented.
Diabetic foot research focuses on the pathology of the nerve damage that precedes these horrific foot conditions and on medications that can possibly treat or inhibit the progression of the disease. The Wisconsin Foot and Ankle Institute conducted research that may identify medications such as anti-depressants, opioids, anti-arrhythmic, and anticonvulsants in addition to antioxidant therapy and alpha-lipoic acid to reduce or eliminate symptoms of Diabetic Neuropathy. They found each of these medicines to benefit the Diabetic in some manner, but noted that more research is needed.
