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Complications of Diabetes

Having diabetes, whether Type 1 or Type 2, puts you at greater risk for developing other medical conditions that can affect your ability to see, walk and enjoy a good quality of life.

Have questions about managing diabetes? Ask your healthcare provider for a referral to the Beaufort Memorial Health LifeFit Diabetes Self-Management Education program. You can download a referral form or call us at 843-522-5635 for more information.

diabetic foot exam

What Are the Complications of Diabetes?

Over time, high blood sugar levels caused by Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes can contribute to problems involving eyesight, the heart, brain, nervous system, kidneys, digestive system, legs and feet. In most cases, these conditions develop as a result of diabetes damaging blood vessels in places like your eyes, heart and kidneys. Some common complications of diabetes include:

  • Diabetes eye complications. Damage to blood vessels in the eyes can begin even in someone with prediabetes, the condition that often precedes Type 2 diabetes. Over time, this can lead to the development of diabetic eye disease, a group of eye problems including glaucoma, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy that can impair your ability to see.
  • Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). This life-threatening condition, which is a more common complication of Type 1 than Type 2 diabetes, develops when ketones, chemicals that convert fat into energy, build up in the blood and make blood more acidic. This can happen when cells are unable to use blood sugar (or blood glucose) for energy, either because your body needs more insulin, you haven’t eaten enough or you experienced low blood sugar. DKA signifies that your diabetes is out of control, and it requires emergency medical attention.
  • Diabetic neuropathy. Diabetes causes nerve damage that mainly affects the legs and feet and sometimes the digestive system. Especially in the feet, diabetic neuropathy leads to reduced sensation and the ability to know if the foot is injured. Because neuropathy can impair wound healing, people with diabetes are encouraged to check their feet daily. If infections are not identified and treated, you can develop a severe infection that requires amputation of a leg, foot or toes.
  • Heart disease and stroke. If you have diabetes, your risk for developing cardiovascular disease, including experiencing emergency events like heart attack and stroke, is double that of people who do not have diabetes.
  • Kidney disease. Damage to blood vessels in the kidneys due to diabetes can lead to reduced kidney function and chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD may require the need for dialysis or a kidney transplant.

How You Can Avoid Diabetes Complications

The key to avoiding diabetes complications is to keep your blood sugar levels in your primary care provider’s recommended range with proper diabetes management:

  • Control your weight by exercising daily.
  • Eat a healthy, nutrient-rich diet with fresh vegetables, whole grains and lean sources of protein.
  • Take medications as directed.