MakatiMed’s Diabetes Care Center reveals how you can manage the disease and its effects

This is how diabetes can impact your body from head to toe

Imagine your body needs fuel to run, just like a car. That fuel comes from the food you eat, and a special hormone called insulin helps turn that food into energy. When you have diabetes, your body either doesn't make enough insulin, or it can't use the insulin it makes properly. This leads to too much sugar in your blood, and that's where the problems start.

Many people don't even know they have diabetes for years because there are no obvious signs. But this hidden high blood sugar is very dangerous, like a "silent killer," because it can slowly damage your body over time. Dr. Jimmy B. Aragon from Makati Medical Center, a top hospital here in the Philippines, says diabetes affects us "from head to toe." That's why catching it early is so important, before the damage becomes permanent.

How High Blood Sugar Harms Your Body:

Over time, too much sugar in your blood damages your blood vessels – the tiny tubes that carry blood all over your body. This damage can lead to some serious health issues:

• Heart and Brain Problems: When blood vessels get damaged, they become stiff and can get clogged. This makes it harder for oxygen and blood to reach important organs like your brain and heart, increasing your risk of heart attacks and strokes.

• Eye Problems: Damaged blood vessels in your eyes can blur your vision and might even lead to blindness, a condition called diabetic retinopathy. It can also cause other eye issues like cataracts (cloudy spots in your eye) and glaucoma (damage to the nerve that connects your eye to your brain).

• Kidney Problems: Your kidneys are like filters that clean your blood. When the tiny blood vessels and filters in your kidneys are damaged by high blood sugar, they can't do their job properly. This means waste builds up in your body. In severe cases, you might need dialysis (a machine to clean your blood) or even a kidney transplant.

• Nerve Damage (Neuropathy): High blood sugar can harm your nerves, especially in your legs and feet. This can cause a "pins and needles" feeling, or even numbness. If your feet are numb, you might not notice small injuries, and since blood circulation is also affected, these wounds heal very slowly.

Other Possible Signs to Watch For:

Besides the more serious complications, you might also notice:

• Needing to pee very often.
• Dry skin.
• Feeling very tired.
• Always being thirsty, no matter how much you drink.

Checking for Diabetes and What the Numbers Mean:

The first step to managing diabetes is to keep an eye on your blood sugar. The two main tests are:

• Fasting Blood Sugar: This test measures your blood sugar after you haven't eaten for at least eight hours.
• HbA1c: This test gives you an average of your blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months.

There are different types of diabetes:

• Type 2 Diabetes: This is the most common type. It means your body either doesn't make enough insulin or doesn't use it well.

• Type 1 Diabetes: This is an autoimmune disease, usually found in children and young adults, where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the cells that make insulin.

Here's what your Fasting Blood Sugar numbers usually mean:

• Normal: Between 70 and 100 mg/dl (or 3.9 and 5.6 mmol/L).
• Prediabetes: If your blood sugar is between 100 and 125 mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L), it means you're at risk and should be extra careful.
• Diabetes: A result of 126 mg/dL (7 mmol/L) or higher means you likely have diabetes.

Managing Diabetes and Living Well:

There are medicines that can help lower your blood sugar or help your body use insulin better. But simple lifestyle changes can also make a huge difference:

• Eat Smart: Choose whole grains and foods high in fiber instead of sugary carbs. Drink plain water instead of sugary drinks.
• Stay Active: Even a 30-minute walk after meals can help lower your blood sugar and aid in weight loss, which is good for your overall health.
• Care for Your Feet: Since diabetes affects your feet, keep them clean and moisturized, and wear socks to prevent sores.
• Regular Check-ups: Because diabetes can affect many parts of your body, it's important to monitor not just your blood sugar, but also your eyes, kidneys, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.

Dr. Aragon reminds us that diabetes doesn't have to be a "silent killer" that takes over your life. With your doctor's help and by following their advice, you can still live a full, active life and do almost everything people without diabetes can do, within healthy limits.