From the Guidelines
Diabetics suffer from numerous health complications, primarily including cardiovascular disease, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy, and neuropathy, which can be prevented or delayed by maintaining good blood sugar control through medication, diet, exercise, and regular medical check-ups. The primary complications of diabetes include:
- Cardiovascular disease (heart attacks, stroke, and atherosclerosis), which occurs because high blood sugar damages blood vessels and increases the risk of blood clots 1
- Diabetic nephropathy (kidney damage) develops as elevated glucose levels harm the kidneys' filtering system, potentially leading to kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplantation 1
- Diabetic retinopathy affects the eyes as blood vessels in the retina become damaged, potentially causing blindness if untreated 1
- Neuropathy (nerve damage) typically affects the feet and legs first, causing numbness, tingling, or pain, and can lead to serious foot problems including ulcers and amputations 1 Other complications include increased risk of infections, skin conditions, hearing impairment, Alzheimer's disease, and depression. These complications develop primarily due to prolonged exposure to high blood glucose, which damages blood vessels and nerves throughout the body. According to the most recent study 1, approximately two-thirds of people with diabetes die of cardiovascular disease, with a relative risk 1.8–2.6 times greater than in people without diabetes. The UK prospective diabetes study reported significant associations between hyperglycaemia and development of diabetes complications or death, and a 21% risk reduction for any diabetes-related endpoint with each 1% absolute HbA1c reduction 1. Therefore, maintaining good blood sugar control is essential for preventing or delaying these complications.
From the Research
Health Complications Associated with Diabetes
Diabetes is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, and it is a major risk factor for early onset of coronary heart disease 2. The health complications associated with diabetes include:
- Retinopathy: a complication that affects the eyes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- Nephropathy: a complication that affects the kidneys 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- Peripheral neuropathy: a complication that affects the nerves 2, 3, 6
- Cardiovascular disease: a complication that affects the heart and blood vessels 3, 4, 5, 6
- Coronary artery disease: a complication that affects the heart 5
- Peripheral vascular disease: a complication that affects the blood vessels 5
- Cardiomyopathy: a complication that affects the heart muscle 4
Association between Diabetic Complications
There is a significant association between diabetic nephropathy and other diabetic microvascular and macrovascular complications, including:
- Diabetic retinopathy 3, 4, 5
- Coronary artery disease 5
- Neuropathy 3, 5
- Peripheral vascular disease 5
- Cardiovascular disease 3, 4, 5, 6
Prevention and Treatment
The progression of diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy can be slowed or prevented with tight glucose and blood pressure control 2. Treatment involves diet modification, weight reduction, exercise, oral medications, and insulin 2. Ongoing clinical trials and testing of various medications to determine their effectiveness in treating the complications of diabetes have met with some success, but there is still much to learn about this disease 2, 3, 6.