Ways Diabetes Impacts Your Health Without You Realizing It

Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects the lives of about 1 in 10 Americans. When left unmanaged, diabetes can lead to a wide range of problems that disrupt your physical and mental health.

At OakBend Medical Group, our skilled bariatric surgeon Christopher Reilly, MD, FACS specializes in weight loss procedures to transform your life with Type 2 diabetes. We offer several bariatric surgeries to help you lose excess weight and stay in control of your blood sugar levels.

An overview of diabetes

Diabetes is a disease that affects the way your body converts sugar from your diet into the energy you need to function. Your pancreas produces insulin hormones to process sugar and control levels of it in your blood. When you have diabetes, this process doesn’t work as it should.

Types of diabetes include:

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that causes your immune system to mistakenly attack the pancreas, which prevents the organ from producing insulin. This results in blood sugar levels high enough to damage your blood vessels, nerves, and other parts of your body.

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use the insulin it makes properly. This condition is often a result of lifestyle choices, such as poor diet and a lack of exercise, or due to medical conditions like obesity.

Prediabetes

Prediabetes causes high blood sugar levels that aren’t high enough to be considered diabetes. Having this condition significantly increases your risk for developing Type 2 diabetes.

Understanding the impact of diabetes

Uncontrolled diabetes can cause a wide range of issues in the body and mind. Many people are aware of the risk factors for diabetic neuropathy – nerve damage caused by high blood sugar levels. You may also know that diabetes can lead to blurry vision and the loss of your eyesight.

But there are several other health issues that can affect your health when you have diabetes that isn’t properly managed. Here are five issues you need to know about:

1.Gastroparesis

Gastroparesis is a condition that describes a delay in food emptying from your stomach, which leads to frequent heartburn, nausea, and bloating.

2. Ketoacidosis

Ketoacidosis is a build-up of toxic acids (ketones) that occurs when your body uses other hormones to convert fat into energy due to a lack of insulin. This condition can be life-threatening.

3. Cracked skin

High blood sugar levels cause your body to lose fluids much faster than usual. This can dry out your skin and cause it to crack and bleed.

4. Breath changes

High sugar levels in your blood can lead to sweet-scented breath. Unfortunately, this is a serious diabetic complication that requires immediate medical attention.

5. Depression and anxiety

The daily care needed by someone with diabetes can affect your mental clarity and cause distress. Developing depression or anxiety can, in turn, affect your ability to care for your condition properly.

Surgery for diabetes management

If you’re looking for long-term solutions to manage Type 2 diabetes and achieve a healthy weight, you can meet with our surgeons to discuss your options for bariatric surgery.

Our team specializes in weight loss surgeries, including gastric bypass and gastric sleeve surgery for those with Type 2 diabetes and focuses on improving your ability to regulate your blood sugars through lifestyle and diet improvements instead of medications.

Call OakBend Medical Group in Richmond, Texas, to schedule a bariatric surgery consultation or book an appointment online today.