What are the complications of diabetes?

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What are the complications of diabetes?

If your blood glucose level remains high over a long period of time, your body’s tissues and organs can be seriously damaged. Some complications can be life-threatening over time.

Complications include:

  • Cardiovascular issues including coronary artery disease, chest pain, heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries).
  • Nerve damage (neuropathy) that causes numbing and tingling that starts at toes or fingers then spreads.
  • Kidney damage (nephropathy) that can lead to kidney failure or the need for dialysis or transplant.
  • Eye damage (retinopathy) that can lead to blindness; cataracts, glaucoma.
  • Foot damage including nerve damage, poor blood flow and poor healing of cuts and sores.
  • Skin infections.
  • Erectile dysfunction.
  • Hearing loss.
  • Depression.
  • Dementia.
  • Dental problems.

Complications of gestational diabetes:

In the mother: Preeclampsia (high blood pressure, excess protein in urine, leg/feet swelling), risk of gestational diabetes during future pregnancies and risk of diabetes later in life.

In the newborn: Higher-than-normal birth weight, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes over time and death shortly after birth.

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