Page 282 - fourth year book

DIABETES MELLITUS

4. Infection :

Diabetes does increase your risk of infection and diabetics tend to

have more serious infections than people without diabetes. This is due to
the fact that, if patients have diabetes type 1, the immune system is

slightly depressed because diabetes type 1 is an autoimmune disease
where the cells of immune system attack the cells in pancreas. Urinary

tract infections (UTIs) and infections in the feet are particularly common
in diabetics.

B. Chronic complications
A. Microvascular:

1. Retinopathy :
Diabetic retinopathy is a chronic progressive, potentially sight-

threatening disease of the retinal microvasculature associated with the
prolonged hyper-glycaemia and other conditions linked to diabetes
mellitus such as hypertension.

 Symptoms

Usually the patient complains of blurred vision, although other
visual symptoms may also be present.

 Diagnosis

Diagnosis of early changes in the blood vessels of the retina can be
made through regular eye examinations.

 Prevention and Treatment

Good metabolic control can delay the onset and progression of
diabetic retinopathy. As well, early detection and treatment of vision-
threatening retinopathy can prevent or delay blindness. This involves
regular eye examinations and timely intervention.
2. Nephropathy:

Diabetic nephropathy is a clinical syndrome characterized by the

following:

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