Diabetes is a serious concern because it increases your risk of developing a number of major health problems. Having consistently high blood sugar levels can lead to diseases related to the eyes, kidneys, nerves, blood vessels, and heart.

The major health complications that arise as a result of diabetes are:

1. Diabetic neuropathy, or nerve disease

This is the most common complication of diabetes. Nerves can be damaged by diabetes in several ways. One is when persistently high blood glucose levels directly damage the nerves. Nerve damage can also occur when high blood glucose damages the body’s small blood vessels, which lead to decreased blood flow to the nerves.

Nerve damage can cause loss of sensation, damage to limbs, and erectile dysfunction. The most commonly affected areas are the body’s extremities, especially the feet. Loss of feeling in these areas is particularly serious, because injuries can go unnoticed — this can lead to major infections and possible amputations.

2. Diabetic retinopathy, or eye disease

Eye disease is very common in people with diabetes, caused by consistently high blood glucose which can cause small blood vessel damage to the retina. This leads to progressive loss of vision or even blindness.

3. Diabetic nephropathy, or kidney disease

Kidney disease is much more common in people with diabetes. It is caused by damage to the small blood vessels in the kidneys, which lead to the kidneys functioning less efficiently or eventually failing.

4. Cardiovascular disease

High blood glucose damages blood vessels through the clogging of arteries, which in turn leads to decreased blood flow to the heart or brain. These can cause a heart attack or stroke, respectively. Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in people with diabetes.

The only way to avert these complications is to prevent diabetes from developing, or to keep high blood glucose levels under strict control.

Listen to the podcast 'Diabetes and the Family':

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