{"id":7241,"date":"2016-03-17T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-03-17T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/condition-type-2-diabetes-dr-martin-abrahamsons-advice-on-how-to-prevent-diabetes-complications\/"},"modified":"2016-03-17T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2016-03-17T00:00:00","slug":"condition-type-2-diabetes-dr-martin-abrahamsons-advice-on-how-to-prevent-diabetes-complications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/condition-type-2-diabetes-dr-martin-abrahamsons-advice-on-how-to-prevent-diabetes-complications\/","title":{"rendered":"Expert Advice on Avoiding Complications"},"content":{"rendered":"
Martin J. Abrahamson, MD, is a senior vice president at Joslin Diabetes Center, the medical director of the Joslin Clinic and an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.<\/em><\/p>\n Q: <\/strong>Will diabetes affect my sex life?<\/p>\n A: <\/strong>It can. Men may develop erectile dysfunction, and may also have more frequent urinary tract infections. High blood pressure<\/a>, high cholesterol, and obesity can increase the likelihood of erectile problems. Woman may experience difficulty having an orgasm, more frequent urinary tract and yeast infections, and vaginal dryness. Viagra and similar drugs for treating erectile dysfunction are safe for people with diabetes to take, and there are other options available if medications don't work. Good blood glucose control can prevent such problems from developing or getting worse. Half of men who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes suffer from erectile dysfunction, but that percentage falls to 30% among those whose blood glucose is well-controlled.<\/p>\n Q: <\/strong>What are other complications of diabetes?<\/p>\n A: <\/strong>Diabetes complications are divided into two types: those that affect the large blood vessels, known as macrovascular complications, and those that strike the smaller blood vessels, called microvascular complications. The most important macrovascular complication is cardiovascular disease (heart attacks and strokes), which is the leading killer of people with diabetes. Another macrovascular complication is peripheral vascular disease, where fatty deposits build up in arteries outside of the heart, such as in the legs.Microvascular complications include damage to the retina, the layer of cells lining the back of the eyeball that responds to light. This damage is known as diabetic retinopathy, and can eventually cause blindness. Peripheral neuropathy is damage to the nerves supplying sensation and motor strength to the arms and legs. Neuropathy, or nerve damage, can also affect the autonomic nervous system, which helps regulate heart rate<\/a>, digestion, and other essential bodily functions. People with diabetes also are at risk of kidney damage—diabetes is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease in the western world.People with diabetes are also at greater risk than the general population of developing glaucoma and cataracts. Due to these complications, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in the western world, as well as the most common cause of non-traumatic lower limb amputation.<\/p>\n Q: <\/strong> What can I do to reduce my risk of developing these complications?<\/p>\n A:<\/strong> First of all, if you smoke, quit. Smoking cigarettes worsens blood vessel damage due to diabetes. Next, keep your blood glucose levels under tight control, which will sharply reduce your risk of developing these complications. If you are already experiencing complications, good blood glucose control can halt their progression, and may even reverse them. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that your A1C, a measure of long-term blood glucose control, be less than 7%. Your fasting or pre-meal blood glucose should be between 90 and 130 mg\/dl, and should rise to no more than 180 mg\/dl after a meal.Controlling your blood pressure and cholesterol will also reduce your risk of both macrovascular and microvascular complications. According to the ADA, people with diabetes should keep their blood pressure below 130\/86 mmHg, levels of LDL cholesterol below 100 mg\/dL (70 mg\/dL if you have a history of heart disease), HDL cholesterol above 40 mg\/dL for women and 50 mg\/dL for men, and triglycerides below 150 mg\/dL. Eating healthy, exercising, and losing weight are helpful for keeping blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels in check, although you may need to take medication if lifestyle changes aren't enough. Ask your physician if you should be taking aspirin to help protect your heart and blood vessels.<\/p>\n