This post is part of a larger piece on diabetes and health presented in collaboration with the Kettering Health Network Joslin Diabetes Center. Click here to read it from the beginning.
The Dangers of Diabetes
According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mortality rates are twice as high in middle-aged people with diabetes. Diabetes is also the leading cause of amputations and blindness in the United States. In Studer’s experience working in vascular medicine, her patients were often diabetics who had not managed their blood sugar well. This resulted in high blood sugar over long periods of time and created adverse effects on the body’s organs. Diabetics struggle with heart disease as well, and need to be conscious of cholesterol as well as sugar. This will help to manage the increased risk of strokes and heart attacks.
“Most people do not know they are diabetic until they begin to show symptoms,” explained Studer. “If your organs are not getting enough oxygen and nutrients and you are not getting enough sugar energy into the cell, damage is starting to happen already.”
Continue reading to learn about risk factors for diabetes and pre-diabetes.
