19

Exercise Benefits for People With Diabetes

Table 2.1
Glossary of Diabetes Complications
Complication

Brief description

Coronary artery disease

This condition, caused by atherosclerotic plaque buildup

in the

coronary

too

arteries, results in

little

oxygen reaching the heart muscle. Sometimes

blood and
it's

accom-

panied by symptoms such as chest pain or discomfort.

Other times, it's asymptomatic, or silent. Left untreated,

coronary artery disease can result in a heart attack or
even sudden death.
Intermittent claudication

This complication
rotic

plaque

is

caused by the buildup of atherosclea condition called

in the arteries to the legs,

peripheral vascular disease. The symptoms are pain or

in the buttocks or legs,

only

It's

it's

Diabetic retinopathy

which is
which is why

lameness {claudication)
felt

during exercise.

relieved by rest,

termed intermittent.

This

is

a progressive disease ipathy) that damages the

retina {retino).

The

retina

is

the area inside the eye that

camera and records images of objects to relay

backto the brain. The first two stages of the disease
ground and preproliferative retinopathy often have no
symptoms, although during these stages the retinal blood
vessels are slowly becoming nonfunctional. Left untreated, the condition becomes proliferative as new blood
vessels form in an attempt to maintain an adequate blood
acts like a

supply to the retina. Because they're very

blood vessels rupture

easily,

fragile,

reducing vision and

the

finally

causing blindness.
Diabetic nephropathy

caused by damage

This disease of the kidneys (nephro)

is

to the kidneys' small blood vessels.

The

visible signs

are

excretion of protein in the urine, swelling of the feet and

ankles,

and high blood pressure.

condition results in kidney

Peripheral neuropathy

Autonomic neuropathy

Left unchecked, this

failure.

Disease of the nerves that control sensation and, to a

lesser degree, the nerves that control muscle functioning.
Disease affecting the autonomic nerves, the nerves that
don't consciously control. The autonomic nerves of

we

the body are important because they exert influence over

key internal organs, such as the heart.