Not taking a diabetes diagnosis seriously or paying attention to the symptoms of diabetes can put you at risk of developing very serious complications related to diabetes that may include death. Here are some complications related to type 1 and type 2 diabetes that you may develop if you do not take diabetes seriously and start to make life changing adjustments in your life to manage this condition.

Diabetes mellitus which is often referred to as sugar diabetes results from the body not being able to process glucose resulting from sugars and starches in the diet which represent the body's chief source of energy for day to day activities. Type 1 diabetes also known as juvenile diabetes develops in childhood due to an unknown genetic malfunction. Type 2 diabetes is usually identified as adult onset diabetes and is commonly a result of poor diet and lifestyle choices.

About 10% of all diabetics have the more severe form of diabetes which is Type 1 and the vast majority of diabetics are usually dealing with Type 2 diabetes which has reached epidemic proportions in the country. The early symptoms of diabetes (weakness, fatigue, frequent urination, etc) are usually mild which means that there are more people with diabetes who do not realize that they have the condition and are not taking the necessary steps to avoid the various more serious symptoms of diabetes as well as the related complications.

Complications Related To Diabetes

1. Heart and Kidney Disease

Since diabetics produce little to no insulin (Type 1) or the body becomes resistant to the insulin produced (Type 2), glucose cannot be removed from the blood and transferred to the cells in the body by insulin. The excessive accumulation of glucose in the blood can lead to damage to various organs in the body such as the heart and kidneys leading to heart and kidney disease. Heart disease is probably the leading cause of death in diabetics. Kidneys may fail which could lead to an inability of the kidneys to process waste leading to kidney disease. Kidney failure in a diabetic will require dialysis or a kidney transplant.

2. Eye Problems

The excessive glucose in the blood can also damage the veins including the veins in the eye by causing them to bleed leading to eye problems including diabetes related blindness.

3. Feet Problems

Excess glucose in the blood can lead to nerve damage especially in the feet leading to numbness in the feet which could require amputation.

4. Atherosclerosis

Having diabetes that is not properly managed can accelerate the development of this condition which represents the clogging of the arteries which causes insufficient blood flow. This can lead to heart stroke, heart attack, eye disorders, kidney disease, impotence gangrene and could also result in death.

5. Diabetic Ketoacidosis

An abnormal condition that involves the burning of fatty deposits and not glucose for energy is known as ketosis which results in the production of ketones that is more than normal. Normally, ketones are broken down into water and carbon dioxide by various organs such as the liver. When ketones are produced in numbers greater than normal which occurs more in individuals that are insulin dependent (Type 1 diabetes), the buildup of ketones can lead to the disruption of the chemical balance in the body which can be fatal.

When the body is forced to obtain energy by burning fat because glucose cannot be converted to energy in a diabetic, it can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis which is life threatening. This condition usually causes severe dehydration as well as diabetic coma.

6. Teeth

Diabetics are especially susceptible to infection and one of the complications of diabetes is gingivitis and gum disease so diabetics need to be careful about preventing tooth decay and periodontal disease.