The Urgent Reality of Untreated Type 1 Diabetes
This is what happens after over 10,000 hard hours of clinical experience.
The other day, I had an encounter that stayed with me.
As a healthcare professional, I have seen a range of cases, but this one struck a deeper chord,a woman in her forties suffering the devastating consequences of poorly managed Type 1 Diabetes, or juvenile diabetes. Her condition was a stark reminder of what happens when this chronic illness spirals out of control.
She presented with a range of severe complications, each one more sobering than the last. The most pressing was nephropathy, a form of kidney damage so advanced that she now requires dialysis three times a week. Her blood pressure remained dangerously high, systolic (the top number) readings hovering around 180, even during and after her dialysis sessions. That level of pressure on the cardiovascular system is not only alarming, it’s life-threatening.
We had this woman on three potent antihypertensive medications:
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Nifedipine 180 mg daily
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Coreg (Carvedilol) 25 mg twice daily
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Hydralazine 100 mg twice daily
And yet, her blood pressure remains sky high and would not come down.
To make matters worse, she was nearly blind when we encountered due to diabetic retinopathy, a condition where prolonged high blood sugar damages the blood vessels in the retina. If left untreated, she is now at risk of losing what little vision remains.
It’s one thing to read about diabetic complications in textbooks or hear them in lectures, but it’s another to witness them unfold in a single patient. Her suffering wasn't abstract, it was real, visible, and painful. And it didn't happen overnight. These complications developed over time, the result of years of un/poorly managed blood sugars, missed appointments, and perhaps a lack of awareness or support.
This is not to blame this woman. This disease developed at a very young age, as a child.
This case brought into sharp focus the chronic and systemic nature of diabetes. It's not just a “sugar problem.” It's a condition that affects nearly every part of the body: the kidneys, eyes, heart, blood vessels, and more. High blood sugar quietly damages the body over time, and the symptoms, once they appear, can be irreversible.
As I cared for her, I couldn’t help but think of the countless patients who are currently “feeling just fine” and may be ignoring early signs or delaying care. Diabetes doesn’t always give immediate warning signs. It requires proactive management with time, not reactive treatment. Meaning it's a long term illness or disease.
So if you or someone you love is living with diabetes, take it seriously now, before complications set in. So:
- Stay on top of your appointments with your endocrinologist.
- Take your medications.
- Monitor your blood sugar and blood pressure regularly.
- Pay attention to your diet.
- Get your eyes and kidneys checked regularly as well.
These steps may feel burdensome at times, but they are the very actions that can help you avoid dialysis, blindness, or worse.
I have seen too many such cases and thought it would be meaningful to share this one personal encounter with you all. Maybe you or a loved one can learn a thing or two from it.
This is not just medical advice—it’s a call from the frontline. I have seen a lot like this one. I have also seen what can happen when diabetes goes unchecked, and it’s a painful reality that no one should have to face.
I didn’t even mention the psychological impact this has had on this woman, just talking to her was heartbreaking.
Your health is your responsibility and greatest possession. Protect it today, for the sake of your tomorrow.
I remain your favorite pal on the web.
–Pal Ronnie–
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