“If I had the chance again, I would keep a better eye on my sugar levels from the start,” says Walter Staab. The 63-year-old looks back on an eventful four years: a rapid loss of vision, eye surgery, the amputation of three toes and the insertion of stents to improve blood circulation in the right leg. He once had a long-term blood sugar level of 13. He is doing better now. His eyesight is back to more than 50 percent, he can work again and the inflammation on his feet has calmed down.
Too seldom at check-ups
Not everyone is so rudely told by their body that they have too much sugar in their blood. But high values should not be underestimated: “In the beginning I made the mistake of not taking the disease seriously. When I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in my early 50s, I only took my pills irregularly and was rarely at the check-up appointments “, says Staab. A very human mistake, which also happens easily because you don’t even feel the diabetes at first. This is also confirmed by Professor Dr. Thomas Haak, diabetologist and chief physician at the diabetes clinic in Bad Mergentheim: “High blood sugar levels are often surprisingly low in symptoms. Symptoms such as tiredness, temporary visual disturbances or reduced performance can often only occur in some patients at levels above 300 mg/dl.”
Since no two days are the same in diabetes, high values are normal from time to time. Haak reassures: “If they are only increased for a short time, for example as part of a cold, flu or severe stress, it’s not that tragic.” However, permanently high levels that level off at over 180 mg/dl often leave lasting marks. Over the course of eight to ten years, consequential damage to the eyes, kidneys, feet and cardiovascular system can occur.
diet, exercise, medication
The good news: With the right therapy, bad values can be brought under control and further damage can be greatly reduced. Diet certainly plays a role in this. Training in the diabetes practice helps to better understand the connections and to exchange ideas with other affected people. “Adjusting the therapy often helps, for example with a combination of different medications. In addition, especially in type 2 diabetes, exercise makes a significant contribution to lowering high levels,” reports Haak. Today, a number of modern preparations are available that sometimes not only lower blood sugar, but also weight and the risk of heart and kidney problems. Insulin injections are another treatment option.
If the blood sugar levels cannot be controlled in everyday life, an inpatient stay in the hospital or in a specialist diabetes clinic will help. Haak: “Then we can examine which factors are the cause of the high levels. This can be, for example, errors in estimating carbohydrates and amounts, but also problems in implementing the therapy or stress.” Insulin therapy, sometimes only temporary, can also help to effectively lower the levels. Walter Staab’s new therapy works well. He was able to almost halve the long-term blood sugar level.