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Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects many different systems of the body. It occurs either when the pancreas is no longer able to produce enough of the hormone insulin, or if a person becomes resistant to their own insulin.

The effects of this are widespread. Chronically high levels of glucose in the blood (which insulin would normally 'push' back into body cells) cause damage to small and large blood vessels. The large blood vessels include those supplying oxygen to the heart and the brain, predisposing diabetics to heart attacks and strokes.

The small vessels affected include those in the eyes, and in the kidneys. When these vessels in the kidneys are destroyed, the kidney begins to fail - this is called diabetic nephropathy. Blood vessels supplying the nerves around the body are also affected, leading to nerve damage usually beginning in the feet.

These complications of diabetes are preventable as long as the patient is able to control their glucose levels for as long as possible, whether this is by diet alone, or by medication such as metformin or insulin. Patients unable to do this will usually experience complications much earlier than those who can. If kidney function deteriorates to such a degree that it ceases to function properly any more, patients are likely to need their blood filtered by other methods, usually by regular dialysis. They may also be listed for a kidney transplant.

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12y ago

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