Diabetes is responsible for 12% of deaths in the U.S—a number that falls right behind heart disease and cancer. This percentage is significantly higher than previously anticipated. More than 29 million people have diabetes (and a whopping 86 million have prediabetes).

How did this happen? Well, it’s a bit complicated actually. The death rates aren’t due directly to diabetes necessarily but instead, are explained by many complications that come along with it. Heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, and dementia are common complications that lead many diabetics to their death beds.

Diabetes Complications That Are Deadly

Diabetes is a pervasive disease that is caused by a faulty insulin mechanism. In type 1 diabetes, insulin is not produced enough to manage glucose in the blood. In type 2 diabetes, the body becomes resistant to insulin so that glucose, again, remains uncontrolled in the blood.

The end result of either type is the same: volatile blood glucose levels.

The excess glucose does serious damage to blood vessels all throughout the body so that they don’t work as effectively in bringing fresh, healthy blood to the many organs and tissues. As a result, heart disease, cognitive decline, organ failure, blindness and even amputation eventually become secondary diagnoses to diabetics.

All of these secondary effects are dangerous and often result in death, thus making diabetes the third leading cause of death in the U.S.

CDC recommendations

First and foremost, it is important to maintain a healthy diet. A diet full of vitamins and minerals can help combat a lot of damage that comes along with the disease. Whole grains, healthy fats, and lean proteins will boost the body and brain so that they can better withstand the damaging effects of diabetes.

Regular exercise is a natural medicine to manage the disease. By exercising regularly, you are strengthening the blood vessels and boosting blood circulation in direct opposition to the effects of diabetes.

For type 1 diabetes, insulin injections are a crucial part of regulating blood glucose. Without proper care for blood glucose (by using insulin injections), the deadly damage can speed along much more quickly.

Take care of yourself, seriously! Diabetes is a killer and, it’s not something that can be ignored. Don’t let diabetes force you to your death bed!

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