Can You Die From Diabetes - What are the Long Term Prospects for People with Diabetes?

The long term prospects of someone with diabetes depends on the choices he makes. The complications of diabetes are many. People with diabetes who take insulin can develop hypoglycemia (low glucose levels), which can lead to fatigue, headaches, or even a coma. If a diabetic misses his insulin doses, he can develop acidosis. This can also happen if a diabetic has an infection and it is a serious condition affecting mainly people with Type 1 diabetes.

Insulin not only regulates blood glucose levels, it helps your body burn fat. If your insulin levels go down too far, your body will burn fat causing a ketone smell on your breath. You will find yourself breathing rapidly as your body tries to cope. Another condition related to diabetes is diabetic retinopathy, which is damage to the blood vessels in the retina. Your kidneys can be negatively affected by diabetes as well.

You don't have to have any of these complications today, though. We know enough about the long term prospects of diabetes to be able to cope with them before they happen. Diabetics need to regulate their diabetes and take good care of themselves. That way, insulin levels will stay in a healthy range and serious health complications can be avoided. Diabetics should also regulate their blood pressure carefully.

People with diabetes have to worry about more serious long term prospects than those discussed above, though. Diabetes occurs because the body does not produce enough insulin (Type 1) or it does not use the insulin efficiently (Type 2). You can often regulate these by doing more than taking medication and changing your diet..

People with Type 1 diabetes can benefit from a pancreas transplant. This is not a procedure to take lightly and only your doctor can tell you if it is right for you. The surgery methods and procedures are much better now than they were in the past. Today, immunosuppressive medications make rejection of the organ less likely.  There are also gene therapy techniques in development to help people avoid organ rejection.

Gene therapy is also being looked at as a way to help people with diabetes on its own. There is research being done to see if gene therapy can reverse autoimmune disorders including Type 1 diabetes. There is also hope for people with Type 2 diabetes. Gene therapy may be able to help your body use insulin more efficiently. With all the research going on, people with diabetes do not have to be afraid of the long term prospects anymore.