Diabetes Side Effects

There can be short and long-term effects of Diabetes; the sooner you get diagnosed, the more you will reduce your risk of serious side-effects.

Short term effects including hypoglycaemia, DKA (Diabetic ketoacidosis) and HHS (Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state) are well known; talk to your healthcare advisor about these who will be able to brief you on what they mean.

Long term effects may be on your eyes, heart, kidneys, nerves and feet.

Diabetic Retinopathy will reduce your eye-sight but can be effectively rectified by use of laser in 80% of cases.

Your may develop heart or kidney disease and again these are detectable and largely manageable.

Neuropathy which affects your nerves may result in a reduced sensitivity to heat or cold for example. The loss of sensation may cause you to fail to recognise when you hurt yourself (bang a foot for example).

The message is very simple - prevention is better than cure; control your diet and avoid smoking - it's easier than having the side effects later in life!