9 hidden risks of uncontrolled blood sugar

This Week's Tip 9 hidden risks of uncontrolled blood sugar Diabetes is a disease that can be prevented in most cases and treated successfully in the rest. But improper management and uncontrolled blood sugar can cause serious complications in many different areas of the body. Here is a head-to-toe list of its potential complications for people with diabetes: Your brain: People with diabetes are 2 to 4 times more likely to suffer a stroke. Your eyes: High blood sugar can lead to blurred vision, and eventually to diabetic retinopathy (eye disease) and blindness. Your teeth: High blood sugar levels can cause gum disease, and gum disease can cause high blood sugar. Your heart: People with diabetes are more likely to have heart and blood vessel problems. Your lungs: Death from pneumonia or influenza complications is more likely in people who have diabetes. Your stomach and bowels: Uncontrolled diabetes and/or high blood sugar levels can lead to nerve damage in the digestive system that cause trouble swallowing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and bloating. Your kidneys: High blood sugar levels, especially when combined with high blood pressure, can cause kidney damage that requires dialysis. Your reproductive health: Diabetes can cause erectile dysfunction (ED) in men, and yeast infections (vaginitis), vaginal dryness and complications during pregnancy in women.Your feet: Patients may suffer from numbness, a burning "pins and needles" feeling, poor circulation and possibly amputation. Although the potential complications from diabetes may seem overwhelming, the good news is that most of these complications are preventable. Follow these simple steps to protect your body from head-to-toe More Tips for People with Diabetes   Diabetes Friendly Recipe Flaxseed, Wheat, and Bran Muffins High fiber, healthy breakfast muffin. Get the Recipe See More Lower-Carb Recipes Nutritional Info Servings Per Recipe: 24  Amount Per Serving  Calories: 115.7 Total Fat: 3.4 g Cholesterol: 15.4 mg Sodium: 181.8 mg Total Carbs: 20.8 g   Dietary Fiber: 2.8 g Protein: 2.9 g View full nutritional breakdown of Flaxseed, Wheat, and Bran Muffins by ingredient     From Our Diabetes Community THIRSTY ALL THE TIME? (Secrets of Success) points from the wheel (Team Forum) More Secrets of Success... More Forum Posts...       Was this e-mail forwarded to you by a friend? Join the mailing list. Change your e-mail address   You get 1 SparkPoint for reading today's email.   You received this email because you signed up for one of SparkPeople's email newsletters. To unsubscribe please do not reply to this message. Instead, you can use this link to unsubscribe from this newsletter. To remove yourself by postal mail, send a letter or postcard with your email address to: SparkPeople.com, 310 Culvert Street Suite 301, Cincinnati, OH 45202 SparkPeople.com offers general information and is for educational purposes only. sparkpeople.com is not a prescription system and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should consult your health-care provider before starting any nutrition or fitness program, and should consult with your provider about any concerns or questions. © 1999-2014 SparkPeople, All Rights Reserved | Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy