What health problems can develop with diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that can affect different parts of your body through its complications. Diabetes can damage your eyes, heart and blood vessels, kidneys, nerves, teeth and gums. Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to:
- heart attack
- stroke
- toe, foot, or leg infections requiring amputation
- blindness
- kidney failure
- tooth and gum disease
- pregnancy complications
The good news is that research shows many people can prevent or delay these complications.
General
- Preventing Diabetes Problems
(National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse)
- Read the NIH publication, Preventing Diabetes Problems.
- https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing-p
roblems?dkrd=hispt0045 - American Diabetes Association
- Learn about other medical problems caused by diabetes. Select All About Diabetes from the menu on the left, then select either Type 1 Diabetes or Type 2 Diabetes. Each article includes a section called Complications.
- https://www.diabetes.org/
Heart , Blood Vessels, and High Blood Pressure
- Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Stroke
(National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse)
- Read the pamphlet, Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Stroke.
- https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing-p
roblems/heart-disease-stroke?dkrd=hispt0048 - Diabetes and Heart Disease
(Joslin Diabetes Center)
- https://www.joslin.org/patient-care/diabetes-education/diabetes-learning-ce
nter/diabetes-and-heart-disease
Feet
- Take Care of Your Feet for a Lifetime: A Guide for People With Diabetes
(National Diabetes Education Program)
- Read the guide, Take Care of Your Feet for a Lifetime: A Guide for People With Diabetes. Also available in Spanish.
- https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/Diabetes/take-ca
re-feet/Pages/publicationdetail.aspx 
The link above requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you are unable to view or download this article, get Acrobat Reader here.- Diabetic Foot
(National Library of Medicine)
- Diabetic Foot from MEDLINEplus. A collection of Web sites about the diabetic foot.
- https://medlineplus.gov/diabeticfoot.html
Nerves
- Diabetic Neuropathies: The Nerve Damage of Diabetes
(National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse)
- Read the NIH publication, Diabetic Neuropathies.
- https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing-p
roblems/nerve-damage-diabetic-neuropathies?dkrd=hispt0026 - Erectile Dysfunction
(National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse)
- Read the NIH publication, Erectile Dysfunction.
- https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/erectile-dys
function?dkrd=hispt0409 - Sexual dysfunction and diabetes
(Joslin Diabetes Center)
- Sexual dysfunction and diabetes (in both men and women).
- https://www.joslin.org/patient-care/diabetes-education/diabetes-learning-ce
nter?title=&field_topics_target_id=65
Eyes
- Facts About Diabetic Eye Disease
(National Eye Institute)
- This webpage is for people with diabetic retinopathy and their families and friends. It provides information about diabetic retinopathy and answers questions about the cause and symptoms of this progressive eye disease. Diagnosis and types of treatment are described.
- https://www.nei.nih.gov/health/diabetic/retinopathy
- Diabetic Eye Disease
(National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse)
- Read the pamphlet, Diabetic Eye Disease.
- https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing-p
roblems/diabetic-eye-disease?dkrd=hispt0046
Kidneys
- Kidney Problems
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Read the book section, Kidney Problems in Take Charge of Your Diabetes.
- https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pdfs/library/takechargeofyourdiabetes.pdf
- The link above requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you are unable to view or download this article, get Acrobat Reader here.
- Choosing a Treatment for Kidney Failure
(National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse)
- Read the NIH publication, Choosing a Treatment for Kidney Failure.
- https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/kidney-failure/
choosing-treatment?dkrd=hispt0346
Teeth & Gums
- Diabetes, Gum Disease, & Other Dental Problems
(National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse)
- Read the pamphlet, Diabetes, Gum Disease, & Other Dental Problems.
- https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing-p
roblems/gum-disease-dental-problems?dkrd=hispt0050
Skin
- American Diabetes Association
- To find out about Skin conditions and diabetes on the ADA site, select All About Diabetes from the menu on the left. Then select Type 1 Diabetes or Type 2 Diabetes. Choose Complications and scroll down to Skin complications.
- https://www.diabetes.org/
Feelings
- American Diabetes Association
- To find out about living with diabetes, select All About Diabetes from the menu on the left. Then select Type 1 Diabetes or Type 2 Diabetes. Choose Common Concerns to find out about everyday issues. Learn what to expect when you're sick, how diabetes affects your mood, and how to prepare for travel. Also check out the Diabetes Learning Center by selecting Newly Diagnosed? from the menu on the right. This is a resource of basic information about living with diabetes.
- https://www.diabetes.org/
next » How can I prevent diabetes?
Written by: Barbara Carlson, M.L.S.
Last Modified: Monday November 04, 2019 12:15 PM