Chapter 17 - Section 17.7 - Study Guide - Assess Your Learning Outcomes - Page 670: 8

Inadequately treated diabetes mellitus (DM), whether it's type 1 or type 2, can lead to a wide range of serious complications due to prolonged high blood glucose levels. These complications can affect various organs and systems in the body. Here are some of the consequences of inadequately treated DM and the reasons for their occurrence: **1. Cardiovascular Complications**: - **Atherosclerosis**: High blood glucose levels can damage blood vessels and promote the buildup of plaque, leading to atherosclerosis (hardening and narrowing of arteries). This can result in coronary artery disease, heart attacks, and strokes. - **Hypertension**: Damage to blood vessels and impaired blood flow regulation can lead to high blood pressure. **2. Neuropathy**: - **Peripheral Neuropathy**: Prolonged high blood glucose levels can damage nerves, particularly in the extremities. This can lead to numbness, tingling, pain, and loss of sensation in the hands and feet. - **Autonomic Neuropathy**: Damage to nerves controlling involuntary functions can result in gastrointestinal problems, urinary retention, and cardiovascular abnormalities. **3. Nephropathy**: - **Diabetic Nephropathy**: High blood glucose levels can damage the small blood vessels in the kidneys, leading to kidney damage (nephropathy). This can progress to chronic kidney disease and eventually to kidney failure. **4. Retinopathy**: - **Diabetic Retinopathy**: Elevated blood glucose levels can damage the blood vessels in the retina, leading to diabetic retinopathy. This condition can cause vision problems and blindness. **5. Foot Complications**: - **Peripheral Vascular Disease**: Reduced blood flow to the extremities due to damaged blood vessels can lead to poor wound healing and increased risk of infections. - **Foot Ulcers and Gangrene**: Nerve damage (neuropathy) can lead to loss of sensation in the feet, increasing the risk of injuries going unnoticed. Poor circulation further impedes wound healing, which can lead to foot ulcers and, in severe cases, gangrene. **6. Infections**: - **Impaired Immune Response**: High blood glucose levels can weaken the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to infections. Poor wound healing can also lead to chronic infections. **7. Delayed Wound Healing**: - **Microvascular and Macrovascular Damage**: Damaged blood vessels can impair the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to tissues, slowing down the healing process. **8. Increased Risk of Stroke and Heart Attack**: - **Vascular Damage**: The combination of atherosclerosis, hypertension, and impaired blood clotting mechanisms can significantly increase the risk of strokes and heart attacks. **9. Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)**: - **Insulin Deficiency**: Inadequate insulin levels prevent cells from using glucose for energy. The body starts breaking down fats for energy, leading to the production of ketones, which can result in acidosis (DKA). **10. Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State (HHS)**: - **Severe Hyperglycemia**: Extremely high blood glucose levels lead to excessive water loss through urine, causing severe dehydration and imbalances in electrolytes. Each of these pathological effects occurs due to the chronic exposure of cells, tissues, and organs to elevated blood glucose levels, resulting in oxidative stress, inflammation, and various cellular and structural changes. Proper diabetes management, including blood glucose control, regular medical check-ups, medication, lifestyle modifications, and adherence to treatment plans, is crucial to prevent or delay the onset of these complications.

Inadequately treated diabetes mellitus (DM), whether it's type 1 or type 2, can lead to a wide range of serious complications due to prolonged high blood glucose levels. These complications can affect various organs and systems in the body. Here are some of the consequences of inadequately treated DM and the reasons for their occurrence: **1. Cardiovascular Complications**: - **Atherosclerosis**: High blood glucose levels can damage blood vessels and promote the buildup of plaque, leading to atherosclerosis (hardening and narrowing of arteries). This can result in coronary artery disease, heart attacks, and strokes. - **Hypertension**: Damage to blood vessels and impaired blood flow regulation can lead to high blood pressure. **2. Neuropathy**: - **Peripheral Neuropathy**: Prolonged high blood glucose levels can damage nerves, particularly in the extremities. This can lead to numbness, tingling, pain, and loss of sensation in the hands and feet. - **Autonomic Neuropathy**: Damage to nerves controlling involuntary functions can result in gastrointestinal problems, urinary retention, and cardiovascular abnormalities. **3. Nephropathy**: - **Diabetic Nephropathy**: High blood glucose levels can damage the small blood vessels in the kidneys, leading to kidney damage (nephropathy). This can progress to chronic kidney disease and eventually to kidney failure. **4. Retinopathy**: - **Diabetic Retinopathy**: Elevated blood glucose levels can damage the blood vessels in the retina, leading to diabetic retinopathy. This condition can cause vision problems and blindness. **5. Foot Complications**: - **Peripheral Vascular Disease**: Reduced blood flow to the extremities due to damaged blood vessels can lead to poor wound healing and increased risk of infections. - **Foot Ulcers and Gangrene**: Nerve damage (neuropathy) can lead to loss of sensation in the feet, increasing the risk of injuries going unnoticed. Poor circulation further impedes wound healing, which can lead to foot ulcers and, in severe cases, gangrene. **6. Infections**: - **Impaired Immune Response**: High blood glucose levels can weaken the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to infections. Poor wound healing can also lead to chronic infections. **7. Delayed Wound Healing**: - **Microvascular and Macrovascular Damage**: Damaged blood vessels can impair the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to tissues, slowing down the healing process. **8. Increased Risk of Stroke and Heart Attack**: - **Vascular Damage**: The combination of atherosclerosis, hypertension, and impaired blood clotting mechanisms can significantly increase the risk of strokes and heart attacks. **9. Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)**: - **Insulin Deficiency**: Inadequate insulin levels prevent cells from using glucose for energy. The body starts breaking down fats for energy, leading to the production of ketones, which can result in acidosis (DKA). **10. Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State (HHS)**: - **Severe Hyperglycemia**: Extremely high blood glucose levels lead to excessive water loss through urine, causing severe dehydration and imbalances in electrolytes. Each of these pathological effects occurs due to the chronic exposure of cells, tissues, and organs to elevated blood glucose levels, resulting in oxidative stress, inflammation, and various cellular and structural changes. Proper diabetes management, including blood glucose control, regular medical check-ups, medication, lifestyle modifications, and adherence to treatment plans, is crucial to prevent or delay the onset of these complications.