About Diabetes

Diabetes Complications

Learn about common diabetes complications, including those that affect your heart, kidneys, eyes, nerves, and feet, and the steps to help reduce your risk. 

Nurse practitioner showing tablet computer to patient with diagnosis information

Key Takeaways

  • Over time, diabetes can lead to damage to many areas of your body. When other problems develop, they’re called chronic (long-term) complications.
  • Managing your blood glucose (blood sugar) is the best way to delay or prevent diabetes complications.
  • High blood glucose (hyperglycemia) from diabetes and low blood glucose (hypoglycemia) from the medications you take to treat it can also lead to problems called acute (short-term) complications.
  • Learning about different complications can help you take steps to prevent complications or keep them from getting worse.

What complications can diabetes cause?

With diabetes, your glucose levels change regularly, rising and falling. Over time, high blood glucose levels can lead to damage in different parts of your body. One of the ways diabetes affects your body is by damaging your small blood vessels. This can lead to complications, the most common affecting your eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart. 

How can I prevent diabetes complications?

Managing your blood glucose and following your treatment plan are the best things you can do to prevent, delay, or manage long- and short-term complications from diabetes. 

Steps to Prevent or Delay Long-Term Complications

Your A1C results are a good way for you and your healthcare team to see how your treatment plan is working. Your risk of long-term complications is usually lower when your A1C is at or below your target.

Monitoring your blood pressure also helps you and your healthcare team know if your treatment plan is working. The American Diabetes Association recommends a target blood pressure below 130/80 for most people living with diabetes. Reaching your blood pressure target also helps lower your risk for long-term complications.

Other steps you can take that should be part of your treatment plan are to follow a healthy eating plan and get 150 minutes of physical activity a week. 

Knowing the warning signs of complications and going to your regular healthcare visits will help you and your healthcare team find out about long-term complications early so you can take steps to manage them. 

It’s important to know that you can develop diabetes-related complications even if you follow your treatment plan and reach your health targets. If you develop complications, it isn’t a failure, it’s a step on your diabetes journey. You’ll work with your healthcare team to make changes to your treatment plan to manage them along with diabetes.

Diabetes Complications Explained

Diabetes increases your risk for many serious health problems. The good news? 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 about the different neuropathy types so you’ll know what symptoms to look for and what to discuss with your healthcare provider to prevent, delay, or manage this condition.

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

Diabetes can impact the body’s largest organ—your skin. 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 healthcare team. 

Learn more about skin complications

If you have diabetes, you’re at higher risk for both gingivitis (early-stage gum disease) and periodontitis (advanced gum disease). 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.

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.