Many health experts talk so much about keeping blood sugar levels in a healthy range. This is because long-term diabetes problems or complications are often linked to higher blood sugar levels over a long period of time. These complications can affect several different parts of the body.

But blood sugar control isn’t the only thing that determines a person’s risk for diabetes complications. Other factors, like genes, can also play a role.

Many of the complications of diabetes do not show up until after many years and it may take decades of having the disease.

They usually develop silently and gradually over time, so even if people with diabetes are not having any signs of complications, they may still eventually develop them.

Talking or thinking about long-term complications can be hard for anyone to make changes in how they live today to decrease the risk of health problems that may not show up for decades.

Managing diabetes by eating right, getting regular exercise, and taking medication under the supervision of the doctor is the best way to reduce the risk of developing complications.

Parts of the body that can be most affected by diabetes complications are the; eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and blood vessels, gums and feet.

Diabetic kidney disease takes many years to develop. In some people, the filtering function of the kidneys is actually higher than normal in the first few years of their diabetes.

Over several years, people who are developing kidney disease will have small amounts of the blood protein albumin begin to leak into their urine.

This first stage of kidney disease is called proteinurria. Here the kidney’s filtration function usually remains normal during this period.

As the disease progresses, more albumin leaks into the urine. As the amount of albumin in the urine increases, the kidneys’ filtering function usually begins to drop.

The body retains various wastes as filtration falls. As kidney damage develops, blood pressure often rises as well.

For people who live with diabetes for more than 25 years without any signs of kidney failure, the risk of ever developing it decreases Erection problems not only interfere with your sex life, they can be a sign of other health problems.

Erection problems can be a sign of blocked blood vessels or nerve damage from diabetes. If you don’t see your doctor, these problems will go untreated and can harm your body.

Diabetic neuropathies are a family of nerve disorders caused by diabetes. People with diabetes can, over time, develop nerve damage throughout the body.

Some people with nerve damage have no symptoms. Others may have symptoms such as pain, tingling or numbness (loss of feeling) in the hands, arms, feet, and legs.

Nerve problems can occur in every organ system, including the digestive tract, heart, and sex organs.

The highest percent of people with diabetes have some form of neuropathy. People with diabetes can develop nerve problems at any time, but risk rises with age and longer duration of diabetes.

The highest rates of neuropathy are among people who have had diabetes for at least 25 years.

Diabetic neuropathies also appear to be more common in people who have problems controlling their blood glucose as well as those with high levels of blood fat and blood pressure and those who are overweight.

Retina damage happens slowly. Your retinas have tiny blood vessels that are easy to damage. Having high blood glucose and high blood pressure for a long time can damage these tiny blood vessels.

First, these tiny blood vessels swell and weaken. Some blood vessels then become clogged and do not let enough blood through.

At first, you might not have any loss of sight from these changes. Have a dilated eye exam once a year even if your sight seems fine.

One of the eyes may be damaged more than the other and even both may have the same amount of damage. Diabetic retinopathy is the medical term for the most common diabetes eye problem.

As diabetes retina problems get worse, new blood vessels grow. These new blood vessels are weak.

They break easily and leak blood into the vitreous of your eye. The leaking blood keeps light from reaching the retina.

One can see floating spots or almost total darkness. Sometimes the blood will clear out by itself. But you might need surgery to remove it.

Over the years, the swollen and weak blood vessels can form scar tissue and pull the retina away from the back of the eye.

If the retina becomes detached, patient may see floating spots or flashing lights.

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