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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM NOVEMBER 16 - 22, 2022 UCW 19 How diabetes affects various parts of the body a STAFF REPORT Diabetes affects millions of people across the globe. Data from the Inter- national Diabetes Federation indi- cates that the number of adults with diabetes reached 537 million in 2021. Despite a growing awareness of the disease and ad campaigns designed to educate individuals about diabetes prevention, the number of people with diabetes is predicted to rise by more than 100 million by 2030 and reach 783 million by 2045. Diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce sufficient insulin or cannot effectively utilize the insulin it produces. When an individual has diabetes, various parts of that person's body can be affected. Recognizing how diabetes affects the body can shed light on just how debilitating the disease can become. Eyes e National Eye Institute notes that chronically high blood sugar from dia- betes can cause damage in the retina that ultimately leads to diabetic reti- nopathy. at's because excessive sug- ar in the blood can lead to the block- age of tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina. at blockage effectively cuts off the blood supply to the retina, prompting the eye to attempt to grow new blood vessels. However, the Mayo Clinic notes that these new vessels do not develop properly and can leak eas- ily. e longer a person has diabetes and the less controlled their blood sugar is, the more likely they are to develop diabetic retinopathy, which can cause blindness. Heart According to the Michigan-based Beaumont Health, individuals with di- abetes are at a higher risk for develop- ing heart disease at a younger age and in a more severe form than those with- out diabetes. e Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that this link is due to the damage that high blood sugar causes to the vessels and nerves that control the heart. In ad- dition, people with diabetes are more likely to have high blood pressure, too much LDL, or "bad," cholesterol in their bloodstream and high triglycer- ides, which is a type of fat in the blood. Each of these conditions increases a person's risk for heart disease. Skin Diabetes also affects the skin. In fact, the Michigan-based not-for-profit group Beau- mont Health notes that a skin issue is often the first sign that a person has diabetes. at's because diabetes damages blood vessels in the skin, leading to issues such as diabetic dermopathy. Diabetic dermopathy is charac- terized by brown, raised patches of skin, typically on the legs. e American Academy of Dermatol- ogy reports that, when diabetes affects the skin, this is often a sign that blood sugar levels are too high. e AAD offers a list and brief rundown of the various ways diabetes and prediabetes can affect the skin at aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/diabetes- warning-signs. Kidneys e National Kidney Foundation notes that diabetes damages small blood vessels throughout the body, including in the kidneys. When vessels in the kidneys are damaged, the kid- neys cannot clean blood properly. As a result, the body retains more water and salt than it should, which produc- es a host of negative consequences, including weight gain and the buildup of waste materials in the blood. In addition, elevated blood sugar levels force the kidneys to work harder. Over time, all that extra work can lead to kidney failure. Diabetes is potentially deadly, yet often preventable. By taking measures to safeguard themselves against dia- betes, individuals also are protecting various parts of their body from the ripple effects of the disease. Insurance products are underwritten by Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company, Columbia, SC. Ⓒ2020 Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company. All rights reserved. Colonial Life is a registered trademark and marketing brand of Colonial life & Accident Insurance Company. 8-20 | NS-369880 steven.grimes@coloniallifesales.com 910-916-7191 Injury | Illness | Dental | Vision | Life Steven Grimes coloniallife.com Your Local Colonial Life Family. We provide benets that your employees want for those unexpected moments in life, whether that's an accident, illness or injury. Colonial Life. Keep it Local. Keep Unexpecting.® HEALTH