5 Body Parts Affected by Diabetes

November is National Diabetes Month and, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 30 million people in the United States have diabetes. It’s even possible to have diabetes without even knowing it!

“Diabetes is often discovered through routine blood tests long before any symptoms develop, which is why it’s important to have your regular check-ups with your primary care physician,” says Dr. Ukena. “This way we can make the diagnosis early and prevent any complications from high blood sugar.”

But did you know that diabetes can affect multiple parts of the body? Dr. Jenny Ukena, an endocrinologist at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, explains how five body parts can unexpectedly be impacted by the disease.

1. Kidneys: High blood sugar makes the kidneys filter too much blood and become weaker, which over time can cause the filters, or capillaries, to leak useful protein out of the blood and into the urine.
2. Heart: High blood sugar can damage the blood vessels and nerves leading to an increased risk for heart attack and stroke. Diabetes is often also associated with other risk factors like high blood pressure and cholesterol.
3. Feet: Diabetes can cause neuropathy, or nerve damage, reduced blood flow, pain, tingling, weakness and decreased ability to heal wounds or ulcers. Changes to the skin and shape of the feet may also occur.
4. Eyes: Retinopathy, or the blocking of blood vessels to the eye, can occur due to diabetes and result in vision issues. People with diabetes also have a higher risk of glaucoma and cataracts.
5. Skin: Those with diabetes can be more susceptible to itching and bacterial and fungal infections. Conditions related specifically to diabetes, like diabetic dermopathy caused by changes in small blood vessels, can also occur.

“If you have symptoms of increased thirst and urination, blurry vision and unexplained weight loss, these might be signs your blood sugar is high and you should see your doctor right away to be tested,” says Dr. Ukena.

You can find more information and health news like this at http://www.ahchealthenews.com/.

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About Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center

Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center is a 397-bed non-profit teaching hospital located in the Lake View neighborhood on Chicago's North Side. The medical center has a Level I Trauma Center and a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the highest designations awarded by the state of Illinois, and offers comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care, including cardiovascular, oncology, digestive health and neurosciences services. A recipient of numerous awards for quality and clinical excellence, Advocate Illinois Masonic has achieved Magnet designation for excellence in nursing services from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The medical center has also been named a Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equality by the Human Rights Campaign's Healthcare Equality Index. Advocate Illinois Masonic is part of Advocate Health Care, the largest fully integrated health system in Illinois. For more information, visit www.advocatehealth.com/masonic.