Running Head: THE EFFECTS OF DIABETES ON THE HUMAN BODY 1

The Effects of Diabetes on the Human Body

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THE EFFECTS OF DIABETES ON THE HUMAN BODY 2

Introduction

Diabetes for some time has caused the human body to have detrimental effects, which

derail the body of its normal working condition. Experts define diabetes to be an ailment that

regulates the secretion of blood sugar in the body. The gland given the role to secrete insulin, a

hormone that regulates the blood sugar, might not be functioning properly, therefore, rendering

the victim diabetic. There are two primal types of diabetes: Diabetes mellitus and Diabetes

insipidus (Nall, 2018). Lack of enough insulin can trigger the body to accumulate larger margins

of blood sugar, which is toxic for the normal functioning of the human being. The pancreas is the

gland responsible for the secretion of insulin. Patients suffering from the disease usually have a

deficiency in either regulating blood sugar or having any sugar in the system.

Diabetes affects the body on a variance of scales. Meaning, it depends on the type of

diabetes primarily relying on the blood sugar levels. Experts’ claim the long-term damages

diabetes inflicts on its victims is referred to as diabetic complications. It is common knowledge,

that diabetes can affect any part of the body as it is found in blood vessels. However, it is critical

to note that the disease is manageable if only the blood sugar levels are kept in check. The heart

is the most likely area to be heavily affected by the ailment. Coronary heart disease cases are

closely related to diabetes. The effects come after some time, and they take a while to notice

(National Kidney Foundation).

However, medics have highlighted some of the symptoms one has to look out for when

diagnosing the disease. How the disease affects the heart is by increasing the blood pressure thus

up surging the risks of heart attacks. People living with diabetes tend to have a higher level of

cholesterol as the body does not function under normal blood sugar levels. Such propels the

likelihood of contracting a heart-related ailment. Diabetic retinopathy is a typical ailment

THE EFFECTS OF DIABETES ON THE HUMAN BODY 3

associated with diabetes. It involves a reduction in the ability to see properly due to the presence

of diabetic properties in the body. Also, the nervous system is affected by diabetic traits. It is

primarily brought about by the low blood pressure diabetes brings about thus causing numbness

of parts of the body.

During exercises, several processes take place in the body. First, there is the burning of

fat and calories. With this, the body can emit any toxic substances. As the body breaks down the

carbohydrates, they are turned into adenosine triphosphate molecules (ATP). The ATP is then

further synthesized into adenosine diphosphate thus giving off energy that allows the contraction

and movement of muscles. Due to this intense activity, the body secretes sweat to cool the body

during the vigorous process. Because of all this activity, the heart rate increases. Blood and

oxygen are pushed into the muscles to create more energy. The brain responds to these by

secreting a hormone known as cortisol. Endorphins cut off the muscle pain, and the cannabinoids

are responsible for the high that follows a strenuous workout.

Exercise is good for people living with diabetes as it aids them in controlling their weight

and blood sugar levels. It is crucial to note that exercise increases the sensitivity of the body

towards insulin-making the recovery process fulfilling. Through exercise, patients get to control

their blood sugar levels and maintaining a healthy heart that is crucial to their treatment due to

the blood pressure needed. In matters relating to heart attacks, a study revealed that patients who

walked for at least two hours a week were less prone to succumb to heart attacks. Medics

recommend exercise to people who have diabetes.

However, since diabetes is an ailment that requires utmost scrutiny, exercise for people

with diabetes is somewhat adjusted to fit their needs. It is advised that a person with diabetes

should only exercise after one to three hours after eating. It is so to ensure that the blood sugar
THE EFFECTS OF DIABETES ON THE HUMAN BODY 4

levels are at optimum levels. To be positive on the matter, the person with diabetes can test their

blood sugar level to ascertain them fit for exercise. The recommended standard gauge for the

sugar levels stands at 100 mg/dL. If it happens to be below that, it is advisable to take a small

snack before starting the workout. It is important to check the levels of sugar in the blood after

the exercise to check the levels of insulin. It is done to prevent developing hypoglycemia, which

takes place six to twelve hours after exercise. Moreover, if the levels of blood sugar are too high,

above 250mg/dL, then one is advised not to exercise at all.

Nephropathy

Nephropathy is associated with diabetes as it involves the failure of the kidneys. It is also

referred to as diabetic kidney disease. It is typical among those suffering from the mellitus type.

Large quantities of protein are lost through the urine as the glomeruli are damaged. Thus, there is

low serum albumin caused by the effect. Such leads to diabetic nephropathy. Poorly controlled

glucose sugar levels in the blood offset the degradation process. The nephrons then alter, as they

are responsible for filtrating urine, therefore, separating toxins from minerals and other useful

constituents. Such leads to the constriction of efferent arterioles and the dilation of the afferent

arterioles. As there is a shift in hypertension and hyper filtration processes, the glomeruli to

undergoes some changes to adapt to the new environment. (Batuman, 2018) The glomeruli get to

thicken its base membrane. Widening of the slit membranes of the podocytes and an upsurge in

the number of mesangial cells comes next. With an increase of the mesangial cells, the size of

the glomeruli gets to upsurge thus cutting off any filtration.

Diabetic ailments follow a sequence, as they do not happen at once. Medics have

classified into five stages in which a person is considered a person with diabetes. Experts have

come up with a way of gauging the diverse frequencies diabetes has. By using the glomeruli
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filtration rate, doctors can tell in which stage a victim lies. In the first stage, the victim has

kidney damage with the glomeruli filtration rate (GFR) being normal with figures reading

90ml/min. In this section, it is difficult to notice any kidney degradation symptoms not unless

one is tested for diabetes or high blood pressure. In this period, there may be traces of blood in

the urine. Another significant pointer is the upsurge level of creatinine in the blood. Treatment in

this stage is easy as the symptoms are not that severe. Doctors lay heavy emphasis on eating a

healthy balanced diet as the primal step to recovery.

In stage two, diagnosing is also difficult as the kidney is purposed to operate even

properly even when it is not 100%. The GFR in this stage stands between 60-89ml/min. Through

a CT scan, one can diagnose diabetes and seek the necessary medical attention. Treatment of this

stage also involves eating a balanced diet. It is crucial at this stage to keep a record of the

victim’s blood sugar levels, as an imbalance would be detrimental to the health of the patient.

The third stage is categorized into two subgroups. In 3A, the GFR stands between 45 and

59mL/min while 3B is gauged between 30 and 44mL/min. The symptoms in this stage are

moderate and can be traced back to diabetes. Such symptoms include high blood pressure and

anemia. Fatigue also comes into play as the disease develops into later stages. It is advisable to

seek medical attention once one notices the named symptoms. (DaVita).

In stage 4, the GFR stands between 15 and 30mL/min. It is termed severe as the patient

would require a kidney transplant or even dialysis. Due to the continued degradation of the

kidney, waste products continue to build up in the body, therefore, leading to a condition known

as uremia. The symptoms in this stage include kidney pain, loss of appetite, difficulty in

concentrating, and nerve issues. Such should bring the attention needed to seek medical help. In

the last stage, the GFR is at 15mL/min or less. The disease in this stage is also referred to as the
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End Stage Renal Disease. (ESRD). At this stage, the kidneys have lost their ability to perform

their duties, and a kidney transplant is recommended. Symptoms in this stage include fatigue,

muscle cramps, headaches, and nausea.

A disease-free kidney is purposed to remove toxins from the body. A kidney comprises

of millions of nephrons, which contain tiny blood vessels known as glomeruli and are connected

to a tubule. Once blood enters the glomeruli, useful substances are filtered, and the rest is passed

down to the tubule. In the tubule, solvents and water are added, and they get to filtrate the useful

products leaving the waste to be excreted as urine. The kidney removes toxins through the named

process.

Retinopathy

Retinopathy is an ailment that affects the blood vessels in the retina. It is typical amongst

the diabetics, as it has led to the loss of sight to many living with the condition. Blood with high

levels of glucose tends to damage the blood vessels in the eye thus leading to loss of sight due to

the pressure applied to the capillaries (Torpy, 2007). Since the retina’s work is to transmit image

signals to the brain, diabetic retinopathy causes it to leak leading to a distorted vision. Glaucoma,

on the other hand, is a condition brought about by damaging the eye’s optic nerve. Cataract is the

term used to refer to the clouding of the eye lens. It is common knowledge that people with

diabetes stand a chance of developing the condition. (Phillips, 2018). Macular degeneration has

no warning signs apart from the apparent loss in sight over time. Moreover, the retina of a person

with diabetes is at risk of contracting the disease.

Insulin is the primal hormone responsible for the regulation of blood sugar levels. In

healthy people, an increase in the blood sugar levels trigger the pancreas to secrete insulin.
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Furthermore, the secretion allows for the engagement of glucose into the cells requiring the

energy.

Neuropathy

Neuropathy is the result of damaged peripheral nerves. Diabetes is known to spoil the

nervous system making it weak, numb, and painful. It primarily affects the limbs of the human.

The peripheral system is responsible for sending information to and from the brain and central

nervous system. (Healthline). Damage of this leads to nerve malfunction and brings up problems

in mobility of the diabetic. The functioning of a normal nerve involves the brain and the spinal

cord, which consist of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system that

comprises other parts of the body. Messages are sent and interpreted using neurons making the

body communicate effectively with each other. Medics have engaged in research that has led to

the advancement of treatment of numbness. Pins and needles have been used repeatedly to test

the progress and success of the treatment program.

Conclusion

Diabetes is a disease that has the remedy of controlling the levels of glucose in the blood.

If one has a high level, they are advised to have a low intake of sugar. The opposite applies to

those with lower levels of insulin; they upsurge their sugar intake to match the required

threshold. Insulin can also be directly administered to the patient.

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Reference:

Nall, R. 2018. An Overview of Diabetes Types and Treatments. MedicalNewsToday

Retrieved from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323627.php

How Kidneys Work. National Kidney Foundation. Retrieved from:

https://www.kidney.org/kidneydisease/howkidneyswrk

Batuman, V. 2018. Diabetic Nephropathy. Medscape. Retrieved from:

https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/238946-overview

Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease. DaVita. Retrieved from:

https://www.davita.com/education/kidney-disease/stages

Torpy, J. 2007. Retinopathy. JAMA Network. Retrieved from:

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/208559

Phillips, Q. 2018. What Are Cataracts? Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, and Prevention. Everyday

Health. Retrieved from: https://www.everydayhealth.com/cataracts/guide/

Peripheral Neuropathy. Healthline. Retrieved from:

https://www.healthline.com/health/peripheral-neuropathy