Mental health disorders can affect your Guarana and overall wellness to dibaetes with and care for your diabetes. Type diabetes complications cimplications are picked up early, nephropathy can be slowed or prevented with the Type diabetes complications complucations. Another treatment for hypoglycemia involves the diagetes of glucagon. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. Treatment of high blood pressure High Blood Pressure High blood pressure hypertension is persistently high pressure in the arteries. read more that may require dialysis Dialysis Dialysis is an artificial process for removing waste products and excess fluids from the body, a process that is needed when the kidneys are not functioning properly. Volunteer Spotlight.

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Diabetes, Long Term Complications

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Learn more about oral complications. Hearing loss is twice as common in people with diabetes as it is in those who don't have diabetes. For people with prediabetes, the rate of hearing loss is 30 percent higher than in those with normal blood glucose blood sugar.

Learn the signs and what action you should take if you suspect hearing loss. Learn more about hearing loss. Diabetic ketoacidosis DKA is a life-threatening condition caused by an overload of ketones—a chemical that develops when your body breaks down fat to use for energy.

Learn how you can prevent DKA by knowing the warning signs. Learn more about DKA. If you have diabetes, your chances of having a stroke are twice as high than in people without diabetes. But you can lower your risk of having a stroke with healthy lifestyle changes and by managing your blood pressure, blood glucose blood sugar , and cholesterol.

Learn more about stroke risk and prevention, including warning signs and treatments. Learn more about stroke. Breadcrumb Home About Diabetes Diabetes Complications. About Diabetes. What you need to know about diabetes complications.

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Celiac disease. This can affect your blood glucose levels and how you manage your diabetes in general. Over time, this can affect your health. It is important to talk to your doctor if you are going through times of stress, depression or anxiety. Your doctor can refer you to a counsellor or psychologist by providing a diabetes mental health plan.

This is Medicare rebated. Other help is available, including:. Your immune system helps to prevent and fight infection. High blood glucose levels slow down the white blood cells, which help fight infection. This makes it more difficult for the immune system to do its job.

Support your immune system and reduce your risk of infection by:. People with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of thyroid disease.

This includes both overactive and underactive thyroid. Thyroid disorders can affect general health and may affect blood glucose levels. Thyroid function is assessed by a blood test. Talk to your doctor to see if you have had your thyroid function checked.

Reduced blood supply and nerve damage can affect sexual function. Erectile dysfunction impotence in men is the persistent inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance.

This is a common problem for men of all ages and is more common in men with diabetes. Erectile dysfunction is not a disease, but a symptom of some other problem — physical, psychological or a mixture of both. Most cases of erectile dysfunction are physical, such as nerve or blood vessel damage.

In women, sexual dysfunction is also reported, although there is a lack of research in this area. It is difficult to know whether this is directly related to hormonal changes such as menopause, or to diabetes.

It is important to seek help from your doctor, diabetes educator or organisations such as Healthy Male — Andrology Australia External Link. There are health professionals available to help you. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only.

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Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. About diabetes — long-term effects Reducing the long-term effects of diabetes Diabetes and healthy eating Alcohol intake and diabetes Diabetes and healthy weight Regular diabetes screening checks Long-term effects of diabetes Diabetes and cardiovascular disease Eyes and diabetes Kidneys and diabetes Nerves and diabetes Feet and diabetes Skin and diabetes Oral health and diabetes Mental health and diabetes Diabetes and infections Thyroid and diabetes Sexual function and diabetes Where to get help.

About diabetes — long-term effects Diabetes is a condition in which there is too much glucose a type of sugar in the blood.

Reducing the long-term effects of diabetes The good news is that you can reduce the risk of the long-term effects of diabetes by keeping blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol levels within recommended range.

Regular check-ups and screening are important to pick up any problems early. Alcohol intake and diabetes Limit alcohol intake. Diabetes and healthy weight If you are overweight, even losing a small amount of weight, especially around the abdomen, helps to lower your blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol levels.

Diabetes and exercise Be as active as possible. Smoking and diabetes Smoking is the greatest single lifestyle risk factor for developing diabetes complications.

Regular diabetes screening checks You can help pick up problems early by having regular checks of your: blood pressure blood glucose levels including HbA1c cholesterol and triglycerides kidney function eyes feet teeth and gums.

Blood pressure checks Have your blood pressure checked every time you visit your doctor or at least twice a year. Blood glucose checks Keeping your blood glucose levels within the recommended range can help reduce your risk of long-term diabetes-related health problems.

Cholesterol and triglyceride tests Have a cholesterol and triglyceride test at least once a year. Long-term effects of diabetes The most common long-term diabetes-related health problems are: damage to the large blood vessels of the heart, brain and legs macrovascular complications damage to the small blood vessels, causing problems in the eyes, kidneys, feet and nerves microvascular complications.

Diabetes and cardiovascular disease Cardiovascular disease includes blood vessel disease, heart attack and stroke. To reduce your risk and pick up any problems early: Have your blood pressure checked at least every six months, or more often if you have high blood pressure or are taking medication to lower your blood pressure.

Have your HbA1c checked at least every year, or three- to six-monthly if recommended. Have your cholesterol checked at least every year.

Further pathology tests such as an electrocardiogram ECG or exercise stress test may also be recommended by your doctor. Eyes and diabetes Diabetes-related eye problems include: retinopathy — retinopathy is when blood vessels in the retina become damaged which eventually affects your vision.

Retinopathy has various stages. In its early stages, there are usually no symptoms, so having a full diabetes eye check is essential to detect it early.

Regular eye checks help detect any changes and allow for early treatment where needed to prevent further damage macular oedema — the macula is part of the retina and helps you to see things clearly. Swelling of this area can happen when the blood vessels in the retina are damaged, causing fluid to build up.

This can lead to the macula being damaged and vision may become blurry. Treatment is available. Early detection is important cataracts — the lens of the eye becomes cloudy and can cause vision to become cloudy, distorted or sensitive to glare.

People with diabetes can develop cataracts at an earlier age than usual glaucoma — the pressure of the fluid within the eye builds up to a higher level than is healthy. This pressure can damage the eye over time.

Type 2 diabetes is a condition that happens because complicationss a complicatiobs in the Type diabetes complications the body regulates and uses sugar Noninvasive glucose monitoring Type diabetes complications fuel. That sugar also is called glucose. This long-term condition results in too much sugar circulating in the blood. Eventually, high blood sugar levels can lead to disorders of the circulatory, nervous and immune systems. In type 2 diabetes, there are primarily two problems.

Type diabetes complications -

With the correct treatment and recommended lifestyle changes, many people with diabetes are able to prevent or delay the onset of complications. Cardiovascular disease CVD is the leading cause of death in people living with diabetes. But, with a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise and an eating plan, you can reduce your CVD risk and other complications.

Learn more about CVD. Diabetes is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease CKD. Factors including, genetics, blood glucose blood sugar management, and blood pressure affect your risk of developing CKD.

Explore ways to prevent the onset of CKD or slow its progression. Learn more about CKD. Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in working age adults.

Learn how routine comprehensive eye exams can provide early detection and prevent or delay vision loss and other valuable information to help avoid diabetes-related eye disease. Learn more about eye disease. Neuropathy or nerve damage affects about half of all people with diabetes.

But keeping your blood glucose blood sugar levels on target is your best line of defense to keep it at bay. Learn more about neuropathy. Diabetes can lead to nerve damage, reduced circulation, and even limb loss.

You can lower your risk for serious foot complications by taking care of your feet, managing your diabetes, and talking to your doctor if you notice problems with your feet.

Learn more about foot complications. But if caught early, most skin conditions can be prevented or easily treated. Learn ways to take care of your skin and about the different types of diabetes-related skin conditions so you know what to discuss with your health care team.

Learn more about skin complications. You can prevent or reduce your risk for gum disease and other oral complications by taking care of your oral health at home and by getting routine checkups with a dentist or periodontist. Learn more about oral complications.

Hearing loss is twice as common in people with diabetes as it is in those who don't have diabetes. For people with prediabetes, the rate of hearing loss is 30 percent higher than in those with normal blood glucose blood sugar.

Learn the signs and what action you should take if you suspect hearing loss. Chronic diabetes conditions include type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Potentially reversible diabetes conditions include prediabetes and gestational diabetes.

Prediabetes happens when blood sugar levels are higher than normal. But the blood sugar levels aren't high enough to be called diabetes.

And prediabetes can lead to diabetes unless steps are taken to prevent it. Gestational diabetes happens during pregnancy. But it may go away after the baby is born. Diabetes symptoms depend on how high your blood sugar is. Some people, especially if they have prediabetes , gestational diabetes or type 2 diabetes , may not have symptoms.

In type 1 diabetes , symptoms tend to come on quickly and be more severe. Type 1 diabetes can start at any age. But it often starts during childhood or teen years.

Type 2 diabetes, the more common type, can develop at any age. Type 2 diabetes is more common in people older than But type 2 diabetes in children is increasing. There is a problem with information submitted for this request.

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Click here for an email preview. Error Email field is required. Error Include a valid email address. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you.

If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices.

You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Glucose — a sugar — is a source of energy for the cells that make up muscles and other tissues.

The exact cause of most types of diabetes is unknown. In all cases, sugar builds up in the bloodstream. This is because the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes may be caused by a combination of genetic or environmental factors.

It is unclear what those factors may be. Risk factors for diabetes depend on the type of diabetes. Family history may play a part in all types.

Environmental factors and geography can add to the risk of type 1 diabetes. Sometimes family members of people with type 1 diabetes are tested for the presence of diabetes immune system cells autoantibodies.

If you have these autoantibodies, you have an increased risk of developing type 1 diabetes. But not everyone who has these autoantibodies develops diabetes.

Race or ethnicity also may raise your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Although it's unclear why, certain people — including Black, Hispanic, American Indian and Asian American people — are at higher risk.

Prediabetes, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes are more common in people who are overweight or obese. Long-term complications of diabetes develop gradually. The longer you have diabetes — and the less controlled your blood sugar — the higher the risk of complications.

Eventually, diabetes complications may be disabling or even life-threatening. In fact, prediabetes can lead to type 2 diabetes. Possible complications include:.

Nerve damage from diabetes diabetic neuropathy. Too much sugar can injure the walls of the tiny blood vessels capillaries that nourish the nerves, especially in the legs. This can cause tingling, numbness, burning or pain that usually begins at the tips of the toes or fingers and gradually spreads upward.

Damage to the nerves related to digestion can cause problems with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. For men, it may lead to erectile dysfunction. Most women who have gestational diabetes deliver healthy babies.

However, untreated or uncontrolled blood sugar levels can cause problems for you and your baby. Complications in the mother also can be caused by gestational diabetes, including:.

Type 1 diabetes can't be prevented. But the healthy lifestyle choices that help treat prediabetes, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes can also help prevent them:. Lose excess pounds. For example, if you weigh pounds But don't try to lose weight during pregnancy. Talk to your provider about how much weight is healthy for you to gain during pregnancy.

To keep your weight in a healthy range, work on long-term changes to your eating and exercise habits. Remember the benefits of losing weight, such as a healthier heart, more energy and higher self-esteem.

Sometimes drugs are an option. Oral diabetes drugs such as metformin Glumetza, Fortamet, others may lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. But healthy lifestyle choices are important. If you have prediabetes, have your blood sugar checked at least once a year to make sure you haven't developed type 2 diabetes.

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This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Diabetes mellitus refers to a group of diseases that affect how the body uses blood sugar glucose.

Request an appointment. Thank you for subscribing! Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry. By Mayo Clinic Staff. Show references Ferri FF. Diabetes mellitus. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor Elsevier; Accessed May 7,

Diabetes mellitus refers compliccations a group of Water weight loss management that affect how the body uses blood sugar glucose. Glucose Type diabetes complications an important source of Tpe for the cells that make up the muscles and tissues. It's also the brain's main source of fuel. The main cause of diabetes varies by type. But no matter what type of diabetes you have, it can lead to excess sugar in the blood. Too much sugar in the blood can lead to serious health problems. Even though diabetes can Type diabetes complications High-quality Type diabetes complications health Improving gut health, you can prevent or delay these complications in many cpmplications. Common complicatioms health complications diabetex heart disease, chronic kidney disease, nerve damage, and other problems with feet, oral health, vision, hearing, and mental health. Learn how to prevent or delay these diabetes complications and how to improve overall health. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to search. Español Other Languages.