| Complications of diabetes may arise if the condition is | | | | kidneys lose their ability to cleanse blood. Toxic waste |
| not managed well. It can be exacerbated by other | | | | accumulates and dialysis is needed to cleanse the |
| health problems like smoking, alcohol intake, sedentary | | | | blood. Kidney transplantation is an option for those who |
| lifestyle, overweight, high cholesterol levels and | | | | do not want to undergo periodic dialysis. Diabetes can |
| hypertension. | | | | also damage the heart, cause diastolic dysfunction |
| The complications of diabetes that can affect the | | | | leading to heart failure. |
| entire body range from the head to the feet. The most | | | | Nerve damage is also among the complications of |
| common diabetes complication affecting the eyes is | | | | diabetes. The nerve gets damaged and may even die |
| diabetic retinopathy. The damaged blood vessels leak | | | | as a result of limited blood flow to the nerves. |
| protein and blood in the retina and cause the formation | | | | Symptoms include numbness, burning sensation, and |
| of brittle blood vessels. These brittle blood vessels | | | | complete loss of sensation in the feet. The patient |
| may bleed, causing retinal scarring and retinal | | | | may fail to protect his feet and get injured. Diabetic |
| detachment. This occurs among patients who have | | | | foot injuries may not heal and can lead to serious |
| had diabetes for about five years. Glaucoma and | | | | infection. |
| cataracts are also common in diabetics. | | | | Some studies suggest that those with a healthy |
| Diabetes can also damage the kidneys. When the | | | | lifestyle (healthy diet, ideal weight, regular exercise) can |
| disease had already reached an advanced stage, the | | | | help keep diabetes in check. |