Check your blood glucose level today
Both diabetes type one and two can be dangerous when not looked after and left untreated.
Springs Medicross general practitioner, Dr Krishka Potgieter, says over time diabetes can cause damage to the blood vessels and vital organs such as the kidneys.
“People who suffer from the disease are at risk of developing blindness, coronary heart disease and stroke,” says Dr Potgieter.
However, type one and type two diabetes can be successfully managed, particularly if detected in good time.
The earlier the disease is managed the less impact it is likely to have on the person’s health and well-being.
“Both types of diabetes are a common and often preventable cause of morbidity and mortality, not just in South Africa but worldwide,” she says.
When a person is diagnosed with diabetes their blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels are too high.
Over time, this can cause problems and complications with the kidneys, nerves, feet and eyes.
“Having diabetes can also put them at a higher risk for heart disease and bone and joint disorders,” says Dr Potgieter.
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