Because the body stops producing insulin, Type 1 Diabetes is in itself an acute complication with added complications of insulin reaction and acidosis. If the diabetic patient allows the blood sugar levels to be uncontrolled for a prolonged period of time without proper care and treatment, then it can lead to several other long term complications.

The long term complications of type 1 diabetes affect the lives of many diabetics in a rather severe fashion. Research for a permanent cure for type 1 diabetes is under way around the world. And, we can expect a cure in the next 3 to 5 years.

But, if the diabetic develops these long term complications due to neglect of his / her diabetic condition, then there is no point in curing the diabetes alone as several other parts of the body would have already got damaged beyond repair.

So, please ensure that you take your type 1 diabetes seriously and proper care, treatment and control are exercised.

I am publishing all these articles on my type 1 diabetes so that others learn from my mistakes, avoid them and realise that their condition is serious. I also hope to make others understand that they can lead a normal life when they keep their diabetes under control.

The three most common body parts affected due to uncontrolled blood sugar levels over prolonged periods of time are:

1. Eyes
2. Kidneys
3. Nerves

EYE PROBLEMS

1. Cataracts

Cataracts are small thickenings in the eye lens. Damage to the lens is believed to be caused by sorbitol, a compound made in the lens from glucose.

It occurs when blood glucose levels have been very high in the body for a long time.

They may show some improvement if the blood sugar levels are maintained.

2. Retinopathy

Retinopathy refers to small changes of the retina, which is the layer of tissue at the back of the eye.

This part of the eye has many small blood vessels similar to those found in the kidney.

Diabetes mellitus damages the retinal vessels resulting in a condition called diabetic retinopathy which could eventually lead to blindness.

Diabetic retinopathy occurs because of:

• Duration of Diabetes after puberty
• Degree of blood sugar control
• Increased blood pressure resulting in greater risk for retinal changes
• Use of Tobacco makes these changes progress more rapidly
3. “Pre-Proliferative” and “Proliferative” Retinopathy

Usually involves formation of new (proliferative) and fragile retinal blood vessels, which are at a greater risk of breaking (hemorrhaging).

The more severe changes are referred for laser therapy.

4. Vitreous Hemorrhage

Vitreous Hemorrhage occurs when retinal blood vessels rupture and bleed into the vitreous humor. The effects of a hemorrhage can be limited to a few dark spots in vision or, in the case of a severe vitreous hemorrhage, can result in completely obscured vision.

5. Retinal Detachment

A retinal detachment is a separation of the retina from its connection at the back of the eye. The separation usually results from a tear (i.e., a rent or rip, not a tear drop) in the retina.

The tear often occurs when the vitreous gel pulls loose or separates from its attachment to the retina, usually in the outside edges of the eye. The vitreous is a clear gel that fills most of the inside of the eye between the retina and the lens. If the retina is weak when the vitreous gel pulls loose, the retina will tear. This rip is sometimes accompanied by bleeding, or hemorrhage, if a blood vessel is also torn.

KIDNEY PROBLEMS

It is one of the most feared of the complications of diabetes and is refered to as Nephropathy.

When blood sugar levels are very high, sugar is passed in the kidneys filtering system (the Glomerulus). When this happens, the pressures are higher in the kidney filtering system and changes in the small blood vessels can occur.

This increased pressure causes damage to the filtering system so that some proteins leaking through the filter appear in the urine.

It is more likely to occur in people:

1. After puberty
2. Who have diabetes for a long time
3. With poor sugar control
4. With elevated blood pressures
5. Who smoke or chew tobacco

Symptoms of Kidney Disease may include:

1. Increased blood pressure
2. Ankle Swelling
3. Excessive urine protein spillage
4. Elevation of waste materials in the blood (increased blood creatinine and urea nitrogen also called BUN)

NERVE DAMAGE

Diabetic Neuropathy is a condition seen in people after puberty who have had elevated blood sugar levels for a long time.

It is a complex condition that is still not completely understood.

As with cataracts, neuropathy is related, at least in parts, to increased sorbitol levels deposited in the nerves.

It also decreases another compound which is important for the nerves called myoinositol.

Symptoms of Neuropathy are:

1. Numbness, tingling, sharp pains in the lower legs or feet
2. Gastroparesis (i.e the rate at which food moves through the intestines may change.)

Sources:

Some of the technical information have been taken from articles at Answers.com.

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