Does Diabetes Lead To Anemia?

Before we cover “How Diabetes Leads To Anemia” it is important to understand what Anemia is.

What Is Anemia?

Anemia is a health condition in which the body has a few or not enough red blood cells in the blood. Red blood cells carry oxygen to your body cells. When these red blood cells are few in the blood, the body cells do not get enough oxygen.

The lack of oxygen in body cells causes tiredness. There can be a number of reasons why you might face this condition. One of these conditions is when your body does not make enough red blood cells, as occurs in diabetes.

How Does Diabetes Cause Anemia?

Many people with diabetes have kidney problems. Kidneys make a hormone that controls the making of red blood cells. Hormones are like messengers that are sent to organs in the body to help them carry out their duties. Diabetes is known to damage the functions of the kidneys.

When diabetes damages the kidneys, this affects the ability for the kidneys to make the messengers that control the making of red blood cells in the body. Without this control, your body will make fewer red blood cells. Once you have fewer red blood cells in your body, you will have Anemia.

Another reason why you might develop anemia in diabetes is due to a condition that scientists call “Anemia of Chronic Diseases”. Chronic disease is a health condition that lasts long and does not go away with ordinary treatment. For instance, common cold goes away even with just hot tea. So it is a short-lived thing and not a chronic condition.

Diabetes, on the other hand, is a long-lasting condition in which you have to get treated for a long time. That is why diabetes is a chronic condition. Once you have a chronic condition, your body starts to lose a lot of iron.

What’s the link between “Iron and Anemia”, you might ask? Your red blood cells are made of proteins and iron. So if you do not have enough iron in your body, you will not form enough red blood cells. The end result, again, will be Anemia. Which explains how Diabetes leads to Anemia.