Diabetes also increases your risk of developing infections or ulcers of the foot. Poor blood flow and nerve damage increases the likelihood of having a foot or leg amputated. Diabetes can also affect your skin , the largest organ of your body.
You can use petroleum jelly or gentle creams, but avoid letting these areas become too moist. Moist, warm folds in the skin are susceptible to fungal, bacterial, or yeast infections. These tend to develop in the following areas:. High-pressure spots under your foot can lead to calluses. These can become infected or develop ulcers. If you do get an ulcer, see a doctor immediately to lower the risk of losing your foot. Diabetes causes diabetic neuropathy, or damage to the nerves. This can affect your perception of heat, cold, and pain.
It can also make you more susceptible to injury. Diabetes can also lead to swollen, leaky blood vessels in the eye, called diabetic retinopathy. This can damage your vision. It may even lead to blindness. The changing hormones during pregnancy can cause gestational diabetes and, in turn, increases your risk of high blood pressure. There are two types of high blood pressure conditions to watch out for during pregnancy: preeclampsia and eclampsia. In most cases, gestational diabetes is easily managed, and glucose levels return to normal after the baby is born.
Symptoms are similar to other types of diabetes but may also include repeated infections affecting the vagina and bladder. If you develop gestational diabetes, your baby may have a higher birth weight. This can make delivery more complicated. To learn more about diabetes, visit our topic center.
Our free app, T2D Healthline, connects you with real people living with type 2 diabetes. Ask questions, give advice, and build relationships with people who get it. Download the app for iPhone or Android. Curious about type 1 vs. We'll give you the facts on differences, similarities, causes, risk factors, treatment, and more. Your risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases as you age.
Learn how to prevent, recognize, and treat diabetes. The risk factors for type 2 diabetes are complex and range from genetic to environmental to lifestyle choices. Learn more. My diagnosis was a wake-up call. It was time to take care of my health. Learn more about its symptoms, causes, and treatment. I learned that the best type 2 diabetes diet is the one that works for you. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect.
Type 2 Diabetes. Long-term complications of diabetes develop gradually. The longer you have diabetes — and the less controlled your blood sugar — the higher the risk of complications. Eventually, diabetes complications may be disabling or even life-threatening. Possible complications include:. Nerve damage neuropathy. Excess sugar can injure the walls of the tiny blood vessels capillaries that nourish your nerves, especially in your legs. This can cause tingling, numbness, burning or pain that usually begins at the tips of the toes or fingers and gradually spreads upward.
Left untreated, you could lose all sense of feeling in the affected limbs. Damage to the nerves related to digestion can cause problems with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. For men, it may lead to erectile dysfunction. Most women who have gestational diabetes deliver healthy babies. However, untreated or uncontrolled blood sugar levels can cause problems for you and your baby. Complications in your baby can occur as a result of gestational diabetes, including:.
Complications in the mother also can occur as a result of gestational diabetes, including:. Type 1 diabetes can't be prevented. However, the same healthy lifestyle choices that help treat prediabetes, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes can also help prevent them:.
Lose excess pounds. Don't try to lose weight during pregnancy, however. Talk to your doctor about how much weight is healthy for you to gain during pregnancy. To keep your weight in a healthy range, focus on permanent changes to your eating and exercise habits. Motivate yourself by remembering the benefits of losing weight, such as a healthier heart, more energy and improved self-esteem. Sometimes medication is an option as well.
Oral diabetes drugs such as metformin Glumetza, Fortamet, others may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes — but healthy lifestyle choices remain essential. Have your blood sugar checked at least once a year to check that you haven't developed type 2 diabetes. Diabetes care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Diabetes mellitus refers to a group of diseases that affect how your body uses blood sugar glucose.
Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. More Information Diabetes care at Mayo Clinic Diabetes and depression: Coping with the two conditions How diabetes affects your blood sugar. More Information Diabetes care at Mayo Clinic Amputation and diabetes Bone and joint problems associated with diabetes Diabetes and foot care Diabetes and liver Show more related information.
Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Ferri FF. Diabetes mellitus. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor Philadelphia, Pa. Accessed March 6, Standards of medical care in diabetes — 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. To reduce the risk of skin problems:. People with poorly managed diabetes are at increased risk of tooth decay and gum infections. This is because the small blood vessels that help nourish your teeth and gums can become damaged. Dental and gum infections can also lead to high blood glucose levels. Poor oral care can cause the gums to become inflamed and loosen around your teeth.
It's also strongly linked with an increased risk of heart disease. To reduce your risk of teeth and gum problems:. Living with and managing either type 1 or type 2 diabetes can lead to stress, anxiety and depression.
This can affect your blood glucose levels and how you manage your diabetes in general. Over time, this can affect your health. It is important to talk to your doctor if you are going through times of stress, depression or anxiety. Your doctor can refer you to a counsellor or psychologist by providing a diabetes mental health plan. This is Medicare rebated. Other help is available, including:. Your immune system helps to prevent and fight infection. High blood glucose levels slow down the white blood cells, which help fight infection.
This makes it more difficult for the immune system to do its job. Support your immune system and reduce your risk of infection by:.
People with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of thyroid disease. This includes both overactive and underactive thyroid. Thyroid disorders can affect general health and may affect blood glucose levels. Thyroid function is assessed by a blood test. Talk to your doctor to see if you have had your thyroid function checked. Reduced blood supply and nerve damage can affect sexual function. Erectile dysfunction impotence in men is the persistent inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance.
This is a common problem for men of all ages and is more common in men with diabetes. Erectile dysfunction is not a disease, but a symptom of some other problem — physical, psychological or a mixture of both. Most cases of erectile dysfunction are physical, such as nerve or blood vessel damage. In women, sexual dysfunction is also reported, although there is a lack of research in this area.
It is difficult to know whether this is directly related to hormonal changes such as menopause, or to diabetes. It is important to seek help from your doctor, diabetes educator or organisations such as Healthy Male — Andrology Australia. There are health professionals available to help you.
This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. Aortic stenosis may be congenital present from before birth , but is often diagnosed during teenage years. Healthy eating and lifestyle changes can help to manage high blood pressure. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can increase your risk of heart attack, kidney failure and stroke. Heart Foundation of Australia warns of the risk of high blood pressure and tells you what you can do to keep your blood pressure down.
CPR is a life-saving skill that everyone should learn from an accredited organisation. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional.
The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances.
The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website.
Skip to main content. Home Diabetes. Diabetes - long-term effects. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. About diabetes — long-term effects Reducing the long-term effects of diabetes Diabetes and healthy eating Alcohol intake and diabetes Diabetes and healthy weight Regular diabetes screening checks Long-term effects of diabetes Diabetes and cardiovascular disease Eyes and diabetes Kidneys and diabetes Nerves and diabetes Feet and diabetes Skin and diabetes Oral health and diabetes Mental health and diabetes Diabetes and infections Thyroid and diabetes Sexual function and diabetes Where to get help.
About diabetes — long-term effects Diabetes is a condition in which there is too much glucose a type of sugar in the blood. Reducing the long-term effects of diabetes The good news is that you can reduce the risk of the long-term effects of diabetes by keeping blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol levels within recommended range.
Regular check-ups and screening are important to pick up any problems early. Alcohol intake and diabetes Limit alcohol intake.
Diabetes and healthy weight 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.
Diabetes and exercise Be as active as possible. Smoking and diabetes Smoking is the greatest single lifestyle risk factor for developing diabetes complications. Regular diabetes screening checks You can help pick up problems early by having regular checks of your: blood pressure blood glucose levels including HbA1c cholesterol and triglycerides kidney function eyes feet teeth and gums.
0コメント