Controlling diabetes – and keeping your organs safe from the damage it can cause – takes a strong dose of diabetes education. That, and following through on what you learn!

Diabetes, whether Type 1, Type 2, or Type 1.5 (also called LADA: Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults), can eventually affect every organ and organ system in your body. It is well known for targeting the eyes, feet (circulation), and kidneys. People with uncontrolled diabetes can lose their vision completely. They can lose their toes, feet, or legs from poor circulation. They can develop full blown kidney failure leading to the need for dialysis or kidney transplant.

Also well known are its effects upon nerves and blood vessels. Herein lies the universality of diabetes’ damage: there are no organs, no areas of the body which aren’t served by nerves and blood vessels.

Blood vessels are the primary transport highway throughout the body delivering the supplies needed for every life function.

Nerves are the key messenger routes, the “information highways” of the body. Nerves are the human body’s “Internet.”

The organs and the organ systems within each of us are organized into an incredibly complex network of interactions. (The more science learns about the intricacies of the human body, the more incredible it becomes that any of us functions at all!) Every organ and organ system in the human body – in your body – needs both its supply routes and its “Internet” operating at peak efficiency in order to function as they should.

Our bodies often overcome minor or brief problems to these intricate systems. However, the changes that diabetes brings to the function of nerves and blood vessels aren’t minor nor are they brief. Uncontrolled diabetes leads to permanent damage to both the vital delivery routes and control systems of the body. And, as I mentioned above, these are important for everything within us – every cell, every tissue, every organ, every system.

Keeping good control on your blood sugar helps keep your internal Internet and your supply routes open and flowing. This helps keep your organs – and you – operating as you should.
 

Dr. Gregg
Posted – September 4, 2012