Complications
Over time, diabetes can cause damage to the body’s organs, blood vessels and nerves. You can reduce your risk of developing complications with the help of your healthcare team.
Diabetes-related complications occur because of prolonged or persistent blood glucose levels above target range, often together with high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure.
The good news is the complications can be delayed or prevented through managing your diabetes and regular screening for early diagnosis and management of complications. Your diabetes healthcare team are here to support you.
What are the most common complications?
Complications may occur to the large and small blood vessels of the body.
Damage that affects the large blood vessels is called macrovascular complications. This may lead to heart attack, stroke or circulation problems in the lower limbs.
Diabetes dramatically increases the risk of developing coronary artery disease with chest pain (angina), heart attack, stroke and the narrowing of arteries (atherosclerosis).
If you have diabetes, you’re more likely to have heart disease or stroke.
Damage that affects the small blood vessels is called microvascular complications. This may lead to problems with kidneys, eyes, feet and nerves, as well as the teeth and gums, intestines, sexual organs and skin.
Prolonged high blood glucose levels may result in damage to the walls of the tiny blood vessels (capillaries) that nourish your nerves, especially in your legs.
Tingling, numbness, burning or pain that usually begins at the tips of the toes or fingers and gradually spreads upward are common symptoms.
Damage to the nerves related to digestion can cause problems with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. For men, it may lead to erectile dysfunction.
The kidneys contain millions of tiny blood vessel clusters (glomeruli) that filter waste from your blood.
Diabetes can damage this delicate filtering system.
Severe damage can lead to irreversible kidney disease, which may require dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Diabetes can damage the blood vessels of the retina (diabetic retinopathy), potentially leading to blindness.
Diabetes also increases the risk of other serious vision conditions, such as cataracts and glaucoma.
Nerve damage in the feet or poor blood flow to the feet increases the risk of various foot complications.
Left untreated, cuts and blisters can develop serious infections, which often heal poorly.
These infections may ultimately require toe, foot or leg amputation.
Diabetes may leave you more susceptible to skin problems, including bacterial and fungal infections.
Hearing problems are more common in people with diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes may increase the risk of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
The poorer your blood glucose control, the greater the risk appears to be.
Depression symptoms are common in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Depression can also affect diabetes management.
The impact of diabetes on your emotional health and wellbeingis important and is covered in more detail in:Â Emotional wellbeing
How can I prevent or manage complications?
Working with a health care team who understands you and your needs is vital.
There are a number of checks that can guide you and your doctor, such as the NDSS ‘Annual Cycle of Care’.
Having regular check ups will help to detect signs of complications early and a treatment plan can then be put into place.
To reduce the risk of developing complications, try to keep your blood glucose levels within target range. The steps below will help.
- Use the Annual Cycle of Care checklist
- Make healthy food choices, see a dietitian for support
- Be physically active, see an exercise physiologist for support
- Maintain a healthy weight for you
- Quit smoking
- Monitor your blood glucose levels (Ask your doctor whether this is appropriate for you, as sometimes regular HbA1C blood tests will provide your doctor with enough information.)
- Manage your blood pressure, blood cholesterol and triglycerides in the range that is recommended for you (Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure every visit and ensure you understand any medications prescribed for you.)
