The Diabetes Center at Mercy cannot emphasize enough the importance of early diagnosis and proper treatment for all types of diabetes. (See Are You at Risk) If you or your family or caregiver don't work hard to control your blood glucose levels, you can experience serious, chronic complications.

Remember high blood glucose is also called hyperglycemia.

Hyperglycemia is toxic.

High levels of blood glucose in your blood can lead to the following problems:

• Increase in stickiness of blood clogs blood vessels leading to heart disease and a predisposition to coronary heart disease and/or a fatal heart attack.

• High blood glucose levels damage your kidneys. Your kidneys can no longer process waste leading to kidney failure, dialysis and possibly the need for a kidney transplant. You should have a urine protein test (urine microalbumin) each year. This is an early marker for kidney damage while it still can be reversed.
  
  
• If you don't practice excellent control of blood glucose levels you could experience neuropathy or nerve damage. This means you could loose sensation in your extremities like hands and feet leading to injury, infection and even amputation. Your doctor should examine your feet at every diabetes visit for pulses (circulation) and sensation. You could also have nerve damage in other organs like your urinary tract and stomach/gastrointestinal system as well as other organ systems.
  
  
• Erectile dysfunction (impotence) is frequently caused by damage to the nerves and circulatory system in poorly controlled diabetes. Improved glucose control can sometimes help this condition resolve.
  
  
• High blood glucose can damage your eyes. Delicate blood vessels in your retina (the back surface of your eye) cannot tolerate high blood glucose and can be damaged permanently leading to leaking of blood and other fluid which can cause blindness. Exerting aggressive control over blood sugar levels can reverse blurred vision that occurs sometimes with the onset of diabetes. When damage is done, laser treatments can help prevent blindness.
  
  
• A domino-like series of diabetes symptoms can lead to serious foot problems and even amputation.

• nerve damage leads to decreased sensation in lower extremities
• a weakened immune system makes it difficult to combat infections from cuts or wounds
• this combination may lead to you having a serious foot problem and not being able to feel it

• Decreased circulation is a problem for all aging people, but for those with diabetes it can be worse due to the damaging effects of high glucose levels on blood vessels and nerves.

When these things happen, they can lead to serious leg and foot problems, including the need for amputation.

The Diabetes Center at Mercy works closely with specialists throughout the Mercy system to ensure you know how to recognize symptoms of complications and receive topnotch care for any of the above complications.

Working hard with your Mercy Diabetes Team to control your diabetes will hopefully prevent these complications all together!