Don’t Overlook These Important Examinations for Diabetes Mellitus

2024-01-12 16:55:03

Anyone who suffers from diabetes knows that check-ups are important. However, there are some secondary diseases that can arise from diabetes and that are often overlooked.

According to information from Deutsche Diabetes Hilfe, around 11 million people currently live with diabetes in Germany. Of these, around 8.7 million people are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, while around 372,000 people suffer from type 1 diabetes. While these people have to pay more attention to their blood sugar levels in order to avoid high or low sugar levels, diabetes can promote a number of other secondary diseases. If you want to avoid this, you shouldn’t miss some examinations. You will find out what these are in this text.

Diabetes mellitus: You should not overlook these important examinations

Diabetes mellitus can promote various secondary diseases, which usually arise from a permanently elevated blood sugar level. The most well-known are certainly skin changes such as diabetic foot and a higher risk of musculoskeletal diseases. Other diseases that diabetics are more susceptible to:

Microvascular diseases:

• Diabetic retinopathy (eye disease)
• Diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease)
• Diabetic neuropathy (nerve disease)

Macrovascular diseases:

• Cardiovascular diseases
• Cardiomyopathy
• Infections
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NASH)

Dental diseases:

• Caries
• Gum disease
• Dry mouth

Mental illness:

• depressions
• Anxiety disorders
• eating disorder

Important: The information in this list comes from specialist medical sources, such as msdmanuals.com and the specialist portal diabinfo.de, an offer from the German Center for Diabetes Research and the German Diabetes Center.

Diabetes: Check-ups prevent secondary diseases

These possible secondary diseases that diabetics can suffer from lead to appropriate examinations that diabetes patients should definitely have carried out. In addition to the obligatory monitoring of long-term sugar levels, weight control, regular blood pressure measurements and the adjusted dose of insulin from the family doctor, these are, according to the Techniker Krankenkasse:

• Vascular diseases: This area usually falls to the family doctor, who should check during check-ups to see whether there are early signs of changes in the blood vessels. In particular, diseases of the vascular walls, such as calcifications and medical arteriosclerosis, occur more frequently in diabetics and are the causes of many cardiovascular diseases.
• Eye exams: These should be done at least every two years to detect diabetic retinopathy early. Glaucoma (disease of the optic nerve) and maculopathy (damage to the macula and thus the retina) should also be examined.
• Kidney examination: Here the doctor should take a look at the kidney function and urine status about once a year in order to detect common kidney diseases at an early stage.
• Neurological examinations: Diabetes affects the function of the nerves. During a physical examination – usually by your family doctor – reflexes and sensitivity of the skin should be tested. Pain, but also digestive problems, can be an indication of a change in the nerves.
• Dental examination: Experts recommend that every adult should have a dental check-up at least once a year. For the early detection of dental problems, diabetics should discuss with their doctor whether even two visits a year make sense, as they have a threefold increased risk of inflammation of the periodontium (particularly periodontitis).
• Psychological support: Due to the increased risk of mental illnesses, which, according to the DDG, can arise, among other things, from being overwhelmed by therapy or from worries and fears about complications from diabetes, diabetics should seek psychological support from a specialist if necessary.

If detected early, many secondary diseases of diabetes can be avoided or treated well. According to the Techniker Krankenkasse, patients should always attend check-up appointments – even if there are no complaints.

By the way: The diabetes symptoms in men differ slightly from those in women. In women with diabetes, for example, the menstrual cycle can influence metabolism and therefore blood sugar.