Understanding how to recognize the difficulties of diabetes in yourself and others can save a life. Occasionally diabetes goes unnoticed, and till there is a complication, the individual doesn't know he or she has diabetes. If a wise friend can see some symptoms before the complications hit, this could give the diabetic an edge on treatment. It is also recommended that you learn a few of the signs and symptoms of complications and how to stave them off in yourself.

Here are some tips that may help you prevent and recognize diabetes complications.

Prevention

There are a few specific actions you can choose to use help avoid complications and keep them from growing.

1. Do not smoke cigarettes

Smoking is amongst the worst things a diabetic can do. For starters, smoking constricts arteries, further complicating the jeopardized circulation that accompanies diabetes anyway. Next, smoking raises diabetics' probability of cardiovascular disease and even eyesight problems. Thus a good step toward staving off these complications is to stop smoking cigarettes (or don't get started!).

2. Take your medication on a regular basis

To aid your body stay on an even keel, it's a good idea to take your prescribed medication as directed. Don't self-medicate. If you need to change medications or try something different, be sure to do this under the care of a professional.

3. Regular check-ups

Having regular physicals is important, but so are check-ups specifically for your diabetes. Your vision in particular should be monitored to avoid vision complications such as glaucoma later on.

4. Maintain a healthy weight

Having a healthy, diabetic-specific diet and getting adequate physical exercise is key to maintaining a healthy weight. You won't want to crash-diet, but getting on track with the right foods and activity level is a good starting point.

Recognition

Recognizing difficulties early can help, whether it's an urgent, short-term complication or perhaps a long-term one. Here are some tips.

Sources say that your body parts most affected by diabetes are:

€ Eyes
€ Kidneys
€ Nerves
€ Heart and blood vessels
€ Gums
€ Feet

Watching for irregularities in these parts of the body is the first step toward recognizing any complications in that area.

1. Neuropathy

Burning, tingling sensations in the hands and feet, sharp night-time pain, and difficulty walking are signs of diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage). Swollen, red feet are also a sign of severe nerve complications.

2. Vision problems

If you have blurry vision, abrupt losses of vision, appears like flashing light or grey, drifting films across the eyes, it can be a manifestation of diabetic vision complications. Pain and pressure in the eye are also symptoms.

3. Kidney problems

Diabetics are susceptible to kidney problems. Signs and symptoms of kidney complications consist of fatigue, poor concentration, painful urination, and/or edema (puffy swelling) in the abdominal area, around the eyes, or in the ankles and feet.

4. High and low blood sugar levels

Symptoms of very low blood sugar can include nausea, extreme fatigue, confusion, emotional imbalance, and ravenous hunger. High blood sugar may cause excessive thirst, headache, and increased, frequent urination. High and low blood sugar need to be addressed quickly.