If it has been six months or longer since your last A1c or you are having difficulty managing your blood sugar, make an appointment for a diabetes check-up. Diabetes management looks different for everyone.

Some people are able to control their blood sugar with diet and exercise alone. Others need insulin or other blood-sugar-lowering medications.

If your current treatment isn't working to control your blood sugar, your healthcare provider can help. Uncontrolled diabetes can affect many organs of the body due to the damaging effects of high blood sugar. Many of the symptoms will clear once the blood sugar is brought under control.

Others may cause permanent, irreversible damage. Symptoms of uncontrolled diabetes include extreme fatigue, frequent urination, excessive thirst or hunger, unintended weight loss, and blurred vision.

Severe cases of uncontrolled diabetes can also lead to a potentially life-threatening build-up of acids in the blood called diabetic ketoacidosis,. You can avoid complications of diabetes—and live healthier and longer—by managing your blood sugar with medications, routine exercise, and a low-carbohydrate diet.

Weight loss can also help reverse insulin resistance seen in people with type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. Setting realistic goals can help you stay on track.

By developing a healthy lifestyle routine you can stick with, you will be far more likely to control your diabetes while reducing the risk of other chronic diseases, like high blood pressure, heart disease, and kidney disease. Papatheodorou K, Banach M, Bekiari E, Rizzo M, Edmonds M.

Complications of diabetes J Diabetes Res. doi: Tuttolomondo A. Diabetic foot syndrome as a possible cardiovascular marker in diabetic patients. National Library of Medicine: Medline Plus.

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JAMA Netw Open. American Diabetes Association. Glycemic targets: Standards of medical care in diabetes— Diabetes Care. Edmonds M, Manu C, Vas P. The current burden of diabetic foot disease.

J Clin Orthop Trauma. Everett E, Mathioudakis N. Update on management of diabetic foot ulcers. Ann NY Acad Sciences. Skin complications. Christ-Crain M. EJE AWARD new diagnostic approaches for patients with polyuria polydipsia syndrome.

Eur J Endocrinol. Triplitt CL. Understanding the kidneys' role in blood glucose regulation. Am J Managed Care. National Library of Medicine. Urination - excessive amount. Kalra S, Sahay R.

Diabetes fatigue syndrome. Diabetes Ther. Seth P. Clinical profile of diabetic ketoacidosis: a prospective study in a tertiary care hospital. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diabetes symptoms. Sayin N, Kara N, Pekel G. Ocular complications of diabetes mellitus. World J Diabetes.

National Eye Institute. People with diabetes can prevent vision loss. Diabetes and hearing loss. American Heart Association. Peripheral artery disease and diabetes. National Organization of Rare Disorders. Ancanthosis nigricans. American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.

Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum. Agrawal P, Pursnani N, Jose R, Farooqui M. Granuloma annulare: A rare dermatological manifestation of diabetes mellitus. J Family Med Prim Care. By Shamard Charles, MD, MPH Shamard Charles, MD, MPH is a public health physician and journalist. He has held positions with major news networks like NBC reporting on health policy, public health initiatives, diversity in medicine, and new developments in health care research and medical treatments.

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Develop and improve services. Use limited data to select content. List of Partners vendors. Type 2 Diabetes. By Shamard Charles, MD, MPH. Medically reviewed by Do-Eun Lee, MD. High blood sugar levels may also cause chronic damage to the delicate blood vessels and nerve cells in the brain, resulting in cognitive impairment and vascular dementia.

Two out of every three diabetics have high blood pressure , which increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. Very low blood pressure hypotension is also dangerous because it can trigger heart attacks.

He urges patients with diabetes to get screened for additional risk factors for heart disease, including high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Uncontrolled blood glucose also puts tremendous stress on the kidneys and can cause them to lose their filtering ability.

This, in turn, causes kidney failure. Just as with the other complications, keeping blood sugar levels within a normal range is key to keeping kidneys healthy. To prevent these serious complications from diabetes, action is imperative to control blood glucose in the body.

He recommends that his patients work with UCI Health certified diabetes educators to learn how to optimize their diet and exercise regimens for better glucose control. Greater awareness and better management of risk factors.

Find out what you can do to prevent or delay diabetes health problems. In the last 20 years, rates of several major complications have decreased among US adults with diabetes.

The greatest declines were for two leading causes of death: heart attack and stroke. This is real progress. Diabetes complications often share the same risk factors, and one complication can make other complications worse.

For example, many people with diabetes also have high blood pressure , which in turn worsens eye and kidney diseases.

These changes can increase the risk for heart disease and stroke. Smoking doubles the risk of heart disease in people with diabetes. Complications usually develop over a long time without any symptoms. Early treatment can help prevent or delay diabetes-related health conditions and improve your overall health.

A healthy lifestyle is your road map for managing diabetes, which is the key to preventing or delaying complications:.

The blood vessels in your gums can also become damaged, making gums more likely to get infected. And some cancer treatments can affect your diabetes and make it harder to control your blood sugar.

Sexual problems in women Damage to blood vessels and nerves can restrict the amount of blood flowing to your sexual organs so you can lose some sensation. If you have high blood sugar, you are also more likely to get thrush or a urinary tract infection.

Sexual problems in men The amount of blood flowing to your sexual organs can be restricted which may cause you to have difficulty getting aroused. It may lead to erectile dysfunction, sometimes called impotence. High sugar levels in your blood over a long period of time can seriously damage your blood vessels.

So if your feet are damaged, serious heart problems can follow. HbA1c is is glycated haemoglobin. This is made when glucose, which we call sugar, sticks to your blood cells and builds up in your blood. It's measured by a blood test that shows your average blood sugar levels over the last three months.

A high HbA1c means you have too much sugar in your blood. High blood pressure, smoking and a lot of fat in your blood cholesterol can all damage your blood vessels and put you even more at risk.

Keeping blood sugar , blood pressure and blood fats under control will hugely help to reduce your risk of developing complications. This means going to your diabetes health checks and finding out from your diabetes healthcare team how to look after yourself between appointments.

You can prevent or delay the complications of diabetes. We've got lots of advice on what care to expect when you've got diabetes and how it can help you prevent or delay complications. Keeping your HbA1c within the target range set by your healthcare team is really important for reducing your risk of complications.

If your blood sugar levels are rising, talk to your doctor. Your treatment may need to change to get your HbA1c back in target to avoid the complications of high blood sugar. Smoking makes it harder for blood to flow around your body to places like your heart and your feet. If you smoke, then stopping is a key part of reducing your chances of complications.

If you are pregnant or considering pregnancy or are breastfeeding, then zero alcohol intake is recommended. 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.

It can be difficult trying to lose weight, so to get started set yourself a short-term, achievable goal. Try thinking about the food you are eating, whether you really need it, if it's a healthy choice, and consider the portion size.

An accredited practicing dietitian can help you set a realistic meal plan and answer any food related questions you may have. Be as active as possible. The Australian physical activity guidelines recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity a day, and to gradually build up the duration and intensity of exercise.

For weight loss, a minimum of 60 minutes a day is recommended. If you are unable to do physical activity such as walking, swimming or gym work, then consider water aerobics, chair exercises or strength resistance training with light weights.

If you have a medical condition, it may prevent you from doing certain types of physical activity. An exercise physiologist is a health professional that can help set you up with an exercise plan that will suit your needs and ability.

Smoking is the greatest single lifestyle risk factor for developing diabetes complications. Smoking can undo all the benefits gained by weight loss, healthy eating, good blood glucose and blood pressure control. Smoking affects circulation by increasing heart rate and blood pressure, and by making small blood vessels narrower.

Smoking also makes blood cells and blood vessel walls sticky and lets dangerous fatty material to build up. This can lead to heart attack, stroke and other blood vessel disease.

People with diabetes who smoke have higher blood glucose levels and less control over their diabetes than non-smokers with diabetes. Have your blood pressure checked every time you visit your doctor or at least twice a year. Blood pressure control is just as important as blood glucose control in reducing the risk of diabetes complications.

Keeping your blood glucose levels within the recommended range can help reduce your risk of long-term diabetes-related health problems.

Speak to your doctor or diabetes educator if you are unsure what your recommended blood glucose levels are. Your doctor or diabetes nurse educator may advise you to check your blood glucose levels at home depending on your individual management plan.

Regular measuring of your blood glucose levels gives you information about how medicine, food, exercise, illness and stress affect your diabetes.

HbA1c is a measurement of how much glucose has attached to your red blood cells over a three-month period. It is a direct measurement of your risk of long-term diabetes-related health problems.

Both HbA1c and blood glucose monitoring are important ways to assess your diabetes management. However, recommended ranges can vary depending on the person, for example, with children, frail elderly people, pregnant women, or the type of diabetes and its management.

Have a cholesterol and triglyceride test at least once a year. Aim for total cholesterol less than 4. There are a number of causes of high cholesterol, including your family history and your diet.

Too much saturated fat in your diet can increase the LDL bad cholesterol in your blood and result in the build-up of plaque in your blood vessels.

Foods high in saturated fats include full-fat dairy products, fatty meats, pastries, biscuits, cakes, coconut cream or coconut milk, palm oil and fatty take-away foods. Other parts of the body can also be affected by diabetes, including the digestive system, the skin, sexual organs, teeth and gums, and the immune system.

Cardiovascular disease includes blood vessel disease, heart attack and stroke. It's the leading cause of death in Australia. The risk of cardiovascular disease is greater for people with diabetes, who often have increased cholesterol and blood pressure levels.

Smoking, having a family history of cardiovascular disease and being inactive also increase your risk. To reduce your risk and pick up any problems early:. While most people who have damage to the eyes have no symptoms in the earlier stages, there are certain symptoms that may occur and these need urgent review.

If you have flashes of light, floaters, blots and dots or part of your vision missing, see your doctor immediately. Everyone with diabetes should have a professional eye examination by an ophthalmologist or optometrist when they are first diagnosed, and then at least every two years after that children usually start this screening five years after diagnosis or at puberty.

It is important that you inform the person checking your eyes that you have diabetes. If retinopathy or another abnormality is found, eye tests will be required every year, or more frequently if advised by your ophthalmologist.

People with diabetes are at risk of kidney disease nephropathy due to changes in the small blood vessels of the kidneys.

Kidney disease is painless and does not cause symptoms until it is advanced. Screening is very important. Kidney damage can be diagnosed early by checking for microalbumin very small amounts of protein in the urine at least once a year. Your doctor will also check your kidney function, including estimated glomerular filtration rate e-GFR , with a blood test.

If problems are picked up early, nephropathy can be slowed or prevented with the right treatment. Medicine called ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor antagonists help to protect the kidneys from further damage.

These tablets can also be used to treat high blood pressure. Nerve damage neuropathy is usually caused by high blood glucose levels, although similar nerve damage can also result from:.

Damage can occur to the sensory feeling and motor movement nerves of the legs and feet, arms, hands, chest and stomach, and to the nerves that control the actions of body organs. To help prevent nerve damage:. The feet of someone with diabetes are at risk of damage when the blood supply in both large and small blood vessels is reduced.

Nerve damage peripheral neuropathy often results and problems to the structure of the foot can also occur — for example, clawed toes.

Reduced blood supply and nerve function can delay healing, increase the risk of infection, reduce feeling in the feet, and lead to ulcers and structural foot problems. Look after your feet by:. People with diabetes may experience very dry skin due to damage to the small blood vessels and nerves.

A common problem for people with diabetes is very dry skin on the feet. There are also other skin conditions related to diabetes. High blood glucose levels over time can affect the health of the skin. The skin acts as a barrier to protect our bodies from infection so it is important to keep the skin as healthy as possible.

If the skin becomes dry, it can lead to cracks and possibly infections. Recognizing early symptoms of hyperglycemia can help identify and treat it right away. Watch for:. If hyperglycemia isn't treated, it can cause toxic acids, called ketones, to build up in the blood and urine.

This condition is called ketoacidosis. Symptoms include:. During digestion, the body breaks down carbohydrates from foods — such as bread, rice and pasta — into sugar molecules. One of the sugar molecules is called glucose. It's one of the body's main energy sources.

Glucose is absorbed and goes directly into your bloodstream after you eat, but it can't enter the cells of most of the body's tissues without the help of insulin.

Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas. When the glucose level in the blood rises, the pancreas releases insulin. The insulin unlocks the cells so that glucose can enter.

This provides the fuel the cells need to work properly. Extra glucose is stored in the liver and muscles. This process lowers the amount of glucose in the bloodstream and prevents it from reaching dangerously high levels.

As the blood sugar level returns to normal, so does the amount of insulin the pancreas makes. Diabetes drastically reduces insulin's effects on the body. This may be because your pancreas is unable to produce insulin, as in type 1 diabetes. Or it may be because your body is resistant to the effects of insulin, or it doesn't make enough insulin to keep a normal glucose level, as in type 2 diabetes.

In people who have diabetes, glucose tends to build up in the bloodstream. This condition is called hyperglycemia. It may reach dangerously high levels if it is not treated properly. Insulin and other drugs are used to lower blood sugar levels.

Illness or stress can trigger hyperglycemia. That's because hormones your body makes to fight illness or stress can also cause blood sugar to rise.

You may need to take extra diabetes medication to keep blood glucose in your target range during illness or stress. Keeping blood sugar in a healthy range can help prevent many diabetes-related complications.

Long-term complications of hyperglycemia that isn't treated include:. If blood sugar rises very high or if high blood sugar levels are not treated, it can lead to two serious conditions. Diabetic ketoacidosis. This condition develops when you don't have enough insulin in your body.

When this happens, glucose can't enter your cells for energy. Your blood sugar level rises, and your body begins to break down fat for energy. When fat is broken down for energy in the body, it produces toxic acids called ketones. Ketones accumulate in the blood and eventually spill into the urine.

If it isn't treated, diabetic ketoacidosis can lead to a diabetic coma that can be life-threatening. Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state. This condition occurs when the body makes insulin, but the insulin doesn't work properly. If you develop this condition, your body can't use either glucose or fat for energy.

Glucose then goes into the urine, causing increased urination. If it isn't treated, diabetic hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state can lead to life-threatening dehydration and coma.

It's very important to get medical care for it right away. On this page. When to see a doctor. Risk factors. A Book: The Essential Diabetes Book. Early signs and symptoms Recognizing early symptoms of hyperglycemia can help identify and treat it right away.