Several complications seem to occur when a patient has Type 1 diabetes. This is because a higher than normal blood sugar level affects the flow of nutrients from the fine blood vessels that feed the tissues and organs of the body. This makes the tissues suffer from a nutrient deficiency, which severely impacts their normal functionality. The main tissues affected by this condition are the kidney tissues, the nerves, and tissues in the retina of the eyes. These complications are further explained below.
Diabetic Nephropathy
Diabetic nephropathy is a severe condition that takes place when the blood vessels feeding the nephrons in the kidneys contain blood with high sugar levels, and hence are unable to diffuse the nutrients to the nephrons. This means that the nephrons will be unable to perform their normal function of urine purification, which imposes a significant strain on the kidneys. Diabetic nephropathy eventually leads to kidney failure.
Diabetic Polyneuropathy
Diabetic Polyneuropathy describes the nerve damage that takes place due to diabetes. The fine blood vessels feeding the nerves are unable to provide the required nutrients, thereby causing severe nerve damage. The risk of this condition evolves from the fact that nerve damage is likely to impact and hinder limb movement, as well as reduce the patient’s sensation to temperature and pain.
Diabetic Retinopathy
The retina is a very sensitive part of the eye that controls vision. Poor nutrition to the retina affects its operation and impairs the patient’s vision, which may ultimately lead to the development of diabetic retinopathy.
Ketoacidosis
Ketoacidosis is another complication of Type 1 diabetes that occurs due to an increase in the acidity of the patient’s blood. The increased acidity is due to a consistently high blood sugar level. Highly acidic blood is a life-threatening condition and needs to be treated promptly once detected. The symptoms of ketoacidosis include continued vomiting, breathing difficulty and intense dizziness.
References
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetic-nephropathy/…/syc-20354556
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-1-diabetes/…causes/syc-20353011
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