10 January 2015

Type 1 diabetes complications for elderly

Type 1 diabetes and its complications
Type 1 diabetes is caused when the immune system attacks insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas

This means that the body can no longer produce its own insulin to regulate blood glucose levels.There is no cure for type 1 diabetes and people who develop the condition must inject insulin for the rest of their lives. Some people who have had type 1 for a long time may develop complications caused by prolonged periods of high blood glucose levels

Heart problems

The heart pumps blood and all its nutrients around the body to where they are needed
People with diabetes are more at risk from having problems with their heart and blood vessels, so it is important to keep healthy
As a person gets older, the blood vessels start to get stiff and fill up with fat. This is called ‘atherosclerosis’
This can slow the flow of blood from the heart to the brain and legs. This can lead to heart attacks and stroke
We are not sure exactly why it happens, but we think that high blood glucose levels over a long time make the fat in the blood very ‘sticky’, making it easier for the blood vessels to become blocked
By keeping blood glucose at safe levels, eating a healthy diet, taking exercise and not smoking, the risk of developing this complication can be reduced. With any heart problem, it is important to pick up any warning signs early
Warning signs include angina, mini strokes and pain in the calves when walking uphill
Heart problems are the most common problem for older people with type 1

Kidney Problems

Kidneys get rid of the harmful substances produced by the body. They act like a filter, trapping the waste bits and throwing them out in urine
They also control the amount of water and salt in the body. If the kidneys become damaged they cannot work properly and the waste builds up, making you very unwell. Kidney disease caused by diabetes is called nephropathy
Kidney function is closely linked to cardiovascular health, so keeping the heart and blood vessels healthy is also important in protecting the kidneys

Problems with eyesight

Diabetes can affect sight in a number of ways. These include blurring of vision, pain due to pressure build-up (glaucoma) and damage to the back of the eye ‘retinopathy’

Blurred vision

This is the most common problem. Blurring of vision can happen when the blood glucose is high
This causes the lens in the front of the eye to swell up, therefore affecting how the eye sees things
This is usually a temporary thing and will get better when blood glucose levels improve
Sometimes, the back of the eye can swell up (although this takes many years) and may lead to serious damage if ignored

Glaucoma

This is caused by a build up of fluid within the eye. In people with diabetes, sometimes blood vessels can grow in the iris (the coloured part of your eye)
This can affect the fluid in the eye, causing the pressure to rise, which if left untreated can lead to blindness

Retinopathy

The retina covers the back of the eye and contains the sensitive cells that allow a person to see
The retina has lots of tiny blood vessels that can become damaged. They can become weak and bleed, affecting sight, and again if left untreated can cause blindness
However, by improving blood glucose levels and having frequent check-ups at the diabetes clinic, these can be prevented, or treated to slow progression as far as possible

Problems with the nervous system

High blood glucose levels can damage the nervous system. This is called ‘neuropathy ’
No-one knows exactly how diabetes can damage nerves, but there are two ideas. The first is that high blood glucose levels affect the way the nerve cells pass on their messages. The second is that high blood glucose levels damage the tiny blood vessels that supply the nerve cells with all the ingredients they need to work properly
Not everyone has the same symptoms, because the signs and treatments depend upon which nerve cells are affected. Any of the nerves in the body may be affected by high blood glucose levels, but some are more commonly affected than others – particularly those in the hands and feet Symptoms of neuropathy tend to come and go and may include tingling, numbness, pain, burning sensation, or loss of feeling, They may develop slowly over time, or appear suddenly and can last from a few weeks to a few months, or in some cases, may last for years.
JDRF is supporting research in the University of Manchester which is developing a new system that will be able to detect the signs of neuropathy in an easy and painless manner

JDRF