Warning: There may be some photos in this content that may be difficult for some viewers including photos of amputations. If you are unsure if you want to see these sorts of images, please do not go further. The effects of diabetes are not pretty otherwise I wouldn’t include them. Thank you.
There is a high physical cost of diabetes that many people don’t realize exists. As we talked yesterday about the high financial cost of type 2 diabetes, today we are going to look at some of the physical costs of diabetes.
The Physical Costs of Diabetes
There are a lot of physical costs to the condition of type 2 diabetes. Some of the ones that quickly come to mind are blindness, neuropathy, and amputations.
These are some of the scariest words to a diabetic. Other frightening words include heart disease, certain types of cancer.
According to the American Diabetes Association, there are several complications including:
- DKA (ketoacidosis) and ketones (This is a very dangerous condition and should be addressed immediately if these symptoms develop.)
- Neuropathy (nerve damage)
- Skin complications
- Eye complications (including blindness)
- Foot complications (neuropathy)
- Kidney disease
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD)
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Sexual problems (low libido, lack of arousal, etc.)
Another article on Healthline addresses some of these complications in greater detail, as well.
It is always good to get more than just one view of things.
The cost of diabetes also includes sick time, physical pain, time away from work because of illness or doctor appointments, and more.
Death by diabetes
There is no doubt that this condition can be deadly, as well.
My grandfather died from the complications of type 2 diabetes. He suffered from kidney failure, heart disease, multiple heart attacks as well as having one leg amputated.
He was going to have his other leg amputated and instead stopped taking his dialysis (for kidney failure). Within a week he was gone.
My mother suffers from kidney disease (not a failure yet), vision problems, and many other diabetes-related complications.
I, too, suffer from many complications mostly in neuropathy and skin conditions at this point. My vision is also fuzzy. I have higher numbers for pressure in my eyes which can lead to glaucoma.
Today’s Video
In today’s video, I talk a little more about the high physical cost of diabetes.
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Disclaimer: I am not a medical expert. The posts that I write are not to offer medical advice, but merely what I am doing on my journey and things that I personally have found helpful. I do a lot of reading and researching from an academic standpoint and will use some content that comes from people in the medical profession. If you have questions or concerns about anything that I write, please contact me at karin@diabeteshealthnuts.com. Thank you! 🙂
About the author
Karin Nauber is a professional journalist who has worked in the newspaper business for the past 25 years. She is also a grandmother who, along with her spouse, is raising one of their granddaughters. Karin has nine grandchildren with whom she enjoys spending as much time as possible. Karin also was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about 13 years ago and has faced many challenges with the condition. If you would like to contact her, please do so at karin@diabeteshealthnuts.com.
This is a very intense reality check for anyone with diabetes or someone who it pre-diabetes. Unfortunately, this disease has touched almost every single family in the United States, and it is really sad how it affects people. I run a low-carb eating website, and some of it is directed to diabetics. My wife is type 2 diabetic. Since she has cut out most of her high carb foods her diabetes is under control and she is feeling a lot better. Thanks for this post, it is important information that people need.
Diabetes certainly is a scary condition that is affecting millions of people around the world. It sounds like you have diabetes too, Karin. By sharing your journey you’re certainly helping others who have just been diagnosed and don’t know what to do.
Scary photos. I sure hope never to be diagnosed with this condition.