The term "short term complications" may sound like they are issues that are around only for a short period of time, this doesn't mean they are not serious.
Many short term complications can result in the need for emergency care or even hospitalization.
All of these complications are a result of blood glucose levels that are out of control, reaching very dangerous levels - either on the low or high side.
With the exception of mild hypoglycemia (this is when you have low blood glucose levels) which you can manage on your own, all other short term complications should be viewed as a medical emergency.
Trying to treat these type of conditions on your own can lead to serious trouble.
If you find you are blood glucose is at abnormally high levels, or you can't keep food down, by all means get to the emergency room! It may take just a quick visit to the ER or it could take a few days at the hospital.
Regardless, don't pooh pooh the importance of getting care when you need it.
"Short term" means that these complications come upon you quickly as opposed to long term complications that can take as long as ten years to develop and appear.
Some of these complications can develop in a matter of a few days or even a few hours.
The good news here is that these complications also respond to treatment just as quickly.
As a general rule, most of the severe complications that you will see are a result of a high blood glucose level.
You are much less likely to run into these complications (or at least they won't come as a surprise to you) if you are regularly monitoring your blood glucose levels.
With the meters available today, there is no reason for not knowing where you stand on a regular basis.
Many people that run into s.
term complications are children and seniors who live alone or have medical conditions that lead to them not monitoring their blood glucose levels.
If you run into a medical or significant trauma event, you will need to monitor your blood glucose levels even more frequently than normal because you'll be more susceptible to short term complications.
Let's face it - complications of diabetes can have a significant impact on your ability to function in a normal fashion.
If you are a student, you may find that you have issues studying or participating in tests.
Or, you could have a problem driving a car.
Unfortunately, if you run into short term complications while driving, you may find that you run into trouble with your state's Motor Vehicle department.
They could end up taking your license away.
In fact, the DMV, the FAA and even prospective or current employers may question your abilities and all folks with diabetes.
Fortunately, most government agencies and companies have learned about diabetes and will do everything possible to work with you in difficult, short term complications.
While complications are often serious issues, this doesn't mean that you have feel limited in what you do in life.
Diabetes can be controlled and every single one of the short term complications can be avoided.
If you take your prescribed medications when you are supposed to do so and you monitor your blood glucose levels on a regular basis, it's quite possible that you'll never even suffer from severe short term complications.
By closely monitoring your blood glucose, you may find that it may drop or elevate to levels that aren't normal.
If that happens, you'll be able to treat the condition before an issue can crop up that affects you in a physical or mental way.