Actor and director Penny Marshall passed away yesterday at the age of 75. Here are some of the most common complications of diabetes (both type 1 and type 2) that can lead to fatal consequences, and how patients can protect themselves.
Too-high blood sugar
When diabetes is well managed, patients can live long and healthy lives. If glucose levels get too high, for example, it can lead to sudden death.
This complication, known as diabetic ketoacidosis, is more common in type 1 diabetes, a condition in which the body cannot make its own insulin. However, it’s not unheard of in people with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes (in which insulin production is present but impaired), as well.
Most people with type 1 diabetes are able to keep their blood glucose at normal levels by using an insulin pump or by manually injecting themselves with insulin several times a day. This can happen when people skip doses of insulin, but it can also be caused by illnesses or certain drugs.
Damaged organs over time
Another way diabetes can lead to death is by damage done to organs and tissues in the body over a long period of time. “For example, the blood vessels in the kidneys can be damaged by high blood sugar,” says Dr. Mcclain—a complication that can lead to kidney failure and require dialysis.
This same type of organ and blood-vessel damage can also lead to blindness and to amputation of feet or legs, he adds, which can reduce quality of life and raise the risk of infection, injuries, or additional illnesses. “We know that keeping blood sugar under control, for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of these complications,” says Dr. Mcclain.
An increased risk of heart and vascular problems
About two-thirds of people with diabetes actually die from cardiovascular conditions like heart attacks or strokes, says Dr. Mcclain. People with diabetes are also more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
Maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, and getting regular physical activity are all ways that people with diabetes can help protect their heart and their brain as they age.
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