Uncontrolled blood sugar is extremely dangerous: A detailed explanation of the seven major complications of diabetes.

The Dangers of Diabetes: Currently, diabetes has become the third leading cause of death worldwide and a major concern globally. Surveys show that my country has the earliest, largest, and most severely affected diabetic population. Furthermore, those with longer disease durations often experience complications to varying degrees. So, what are the dangers of diabetes to the human body?

Causes to Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Health: A fatal complication of diabetes is its damage to the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems. This is mainly manifested in atherosclerosis of the aorta and cerebral arteries, as well as microvascular diabetic lesions such as widespread endothelial hyperplasia of small blood vessels and thickening of the capillary basement membrane. Elevated blood sugar levels lead to hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension, resulting in a gradual increase in the incidence and mortality of diabetic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. These diseases include coronary heart disease, cerebral hemorrhage, diabetic heart failure, and arrhythmias. The incidence and mortality rate of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in diabetic patients are 3.5 times higher than in non-diabetic patients, making it the leading cause of death in type 2 diabetes.

Harm to the kidneys: Abnormally high blood sugar, blood pressure, and blood lipids promote the occurrence and development of diabetic nephropathy, leading to kidney failure and being one of the most important causes of death in type 2 diabetes.

Harm to peripheral blood vessels: Diabetes primarily affects the peripheral blood vessels, especially the arteries in the limbs. Elevated blood sugar in diabetic patients can cause peripheral vascular disease, leading to decreased sensitivity of local tissues to damaging factors. Clinical manifestations include lower limb pain, ulceration, and insufficient blood supply leading to necrosis of the extremities. If this occurs, it can lead to disability or even amputation.

Harm to the nerves: Neuropathy is one of the chronic complications of diabetes and a significant factor contributing to death and disability in diabetic patients. The most common types of diabetic neuropathy are peripheral neuropathy and autonomic neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy mainly manifests as numbness, coldness, and tingling in the extremities; while autonomic neuropathy mainly manifests as anhidrosis, hypohidrosis, or hyperhidrosis.

Harm to the eyes: In addition to arteriosclerosis, hypertensive retinopathy, and age-related cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and diabetic cataracts are the main manifestations of eye damage caused by diabetes. Mild cases result in decreased vision, while severe cases can lead to blindness. In the United States, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in patients over 20 years of age. Furthermore, diabetes can also cause glaucoma and other eye diseases.

Harm to metabolism: Due to the relative or absolute deficiency of insulin in diabetic patients, severe disorders of glucose metabolism occur, accelerating the breakdown of fats and proteins, producing large amounts of ketone bodies. Tissues cannot oxidize these bodies in time, and the lungs and kidneys cannot regulate and excrete them effectively, leading to a significant increase in blood ketone concentration. This results in ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar nonketotic coma, with an extremely high mortality rate, requiring emergency treatment.

Infections: Common complications include recurrent skin infections, sometimes leading to sepsis; vulvar itching due to yeast infections; onychomycosis; tinea pedis; urinary tract infections (nephritis and cystitis); and increased susceptibility to tuberculosis, which, once contracted, spreads widely and easily forms cavities, with an incidence rate five times higher than normal.

Surveys also indicate that my country has the earliest, most numerous, and most severe incidence of diabetic complications. Over 78% of patients with diabetes for more than 10 years have varying degrees of complications, making diabetes prevention and treatment an indispensable part of my country's healthcare system.