Does diabetes affect the muscles and joints?

Health & FitnessMedicine

  • Author Craig Payne
  • Published October 17, 2022
  • Word count 566

Diabetes mellitus is a common condition in modern society and it is becoming more and more common. The effects of the high blood sugar levels have both acute and also chronic repercussions if the person having all forms of diabetes does not observe the guidelines and recommendations to maintain those blood glucose levels manageable. These kinds of methods include exercise and diet in addition to medication and insulin depending on the type of diabetes they have.

The acute implications might include a hyperglycaemic attack when the blood sugar levels go up. The signs and symptoms of this feature a fruity-smelling breath, a feeling of sickness, dry mouth which leads to confusion and eventually a coma. The exact opposite is a hypoglycaemic episode where the blood glucose levels decrease which results in the symptoms of perspiring, feeling drained, wooziness, feeling hungry, a prickling with the lips and a feeling shaking or trembling along with a fast or thumping heart beat. Additionally they have a tendency to become easily aggravated, tearful, or anxious. Both of these hypo- and hyper- attacks really need to be dealt with rapidly.

If the blood glucose levels are increased too much then there's a greater potential for getting the more chronic problems which result from diabetes mellitus. This is due to the wear and tear which the higher blood glucose levels do to almost all the body’s organs. The more frequent chronic complication is that of diabetic neuropathy. This indicates the nerves loses being able to sense things adequately and starting in the feet, the nerves start to go numb. The hazard of this is when there may be some damage from an accident or something such as a painful blister in the foot, the person with the neurological impairment is not going to feel the pain. Diabetes mellitus can impact the blood circulation so that when an injury may happen, the body carries a decreased immune reaction so that the recovery is going to be reduced.

Long standing diabetes furthermore frequently has effects on the vision and kidneys. With the damage to the eyes, there is a common condition generally known as diabetic retinopathy that affects the cabability to see clearly. It actually is very easily taken care of should it be detected earlier. The renal problems may be rather significant and in some cases individuals with diabetes mellitus that get the kidney complications finish up on dialysis. The kidneys are important to help filter toxic and waste material out from the body, so it is clear to understand why the loss of that capability is most likely significant. There is urine and blood tests that can be done to keep an eye out for the renal conditions.

For the musculoskeletal body system, diabetes changes the qualities of the connective tissues. This makes the joints stiffer with a disorder called limited joint mobility. This rigidity with this in the foot results in complications with walking and in the hands, it can lead to a deformity called the prayer sign in which they are unable to get their palms on their hands together. The atrophy of the small muscles which could occur as the nerve deterioration in the foot may lead to a problem which gets called the intrinsic minus foot. These joints may become fairly rigid over the long term if the blood glucose levels may not be kept under control.

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