Diabetes what's the Danger signs.

[kevinr]

There is something I need to know about diabetes. Why does our eyes suffer and why do we have to loose our limbs and feet and most of all why can diabetes kill us.
What's the danger signs that something as gone wrong and that we need hospital help. Oh I have noticed for some strange reasons that when I am reading I see a double sentence it doesn't happen all the time just now and again I put it down to me being tired all the time due to my cancer. Some nights I can sleep through but when I am sat having breakfast or if someone is talking to me I just fall asleep and I am out cold for about 15 minutes. I wake up and then an hour later I am asleep again

 

[Docb]

Morning @kevinr.

I'm going to take you up on your first sentence!

Whilst it is true that diabetes can lead to the problems you mention, it is very far from a certainty that anybody with diabetes will succumb to them. I'm no medic but as far as I understand it those complications might develop as a result of having high blood glucose levels for a long time because that can lead to nerve damage which then leads to other things. Getting a diagnosis of diabetes, being routinely checked, and using the information to get on top of it by taking steps to keep blood glucose under control cuts the risk down to the sort of levels you can forget about.

I think you have had lots of treatment for cancer and are still under the care of the cancer specialists. If I were you I would be asking them about the double vision and odd sleeping patterns to see if it might be something to do with that side of your life.

 

[Inka]

@kevinr Diabetes can cause various complications. I believe the potential eye damage is due to damage to the tiny blood vessels there. Having regular checks will help spot anything starting to go a bit wrong eg eye screening, urine tests, blood tests, feet checks. If things are spotted early, they can often be improved or stopped.

Next time you get double vision like that, test your blood sugar. I find that sometimes low blood sugar causes double vision.

 

[kevinr]

Thank you Inka

 

[Flower]

The microvascular changes that can lead to diabetes complications- sight loss, kidney damage, circulation and nerve damage and cardiovascular disease are all silent. Until things go noticeably wrong you are probably unaware they are happening which is why having all the annual checks - I know things have all be delayed due to Covid - are so vital as is keeping blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure as stable and controlled as possible. Microscopic changes to the tiny vessels in the retina caused by raised glucose, raised blood pressure, raised cholesterol are all silent changes and if they are screened regularly enough the start of a problem can be picked up early, addressed and treated if needed before things become a much more damaging irreversible problem.

By the time I was diagnosed with sight threatening retinopathy it was too late to save the sight in my one eye. This was the 1980's before annual retina screening & digital photography existed and I was totally unaware I had any issues with my sight & didn't have any issues with reading or focus. I would ask an optician or gp for advice about double vision if it continues and as @Inka says test your glucose if possible.

 

[kevinr]

Flower thank you. I have had a problem with my right eye for over a year it feels like there is something in it but Specsavers checked it when I was in for new spectacles they said could not see anything but said it could be dry eye so they gave me some drops to use these are on repeat prescription I have used these drops now for 15 months but it still feels like there is something still there it can be very annoying.