The impact of diabetes can be wide-ranging and often increases in severity over time. You can minimise the risk of long term complications of diabetes on the body with good diabetes management, but it is important to be aware of potential issues so you can identify and treat them early if they do arise.
Why does diabetes have a long-term impact on the body?
Diabetes can cause blood sugar levels to spike. If these spikes occur frequently, or are sustained over a long period of time, the chances of them causing long-term problems are increased. This is because the high blood glucose damages your blood vessels, interrupting their ability to transport oxygen and nutrients to and from the areas of the body where they are required. Damaged blood vessels in turn lead to damaged nerves and organs, causing a range of possible complications.
What are the long term complications of diabetes on the body?
Cardiovascular problems
When your blood vessels are damaged, this increases your risk of heart attacks or coronary heart disease as well as making it more likely you could have a stroke. This is why it is also important to monitor your blood pressure and cholesterol, as these also create a cardiovascular risk when they are too high.
Kidney issues
Kidney disease rarely shows symptoms in the early stages, but if the blood vessels to the kidneys are damaged by diabetes, you may develop what is known as diabetic nephropathy. If left untreated, kidney disease can lead to outright kidney failure.
Nerve damage
Known as diabetic neuropathy, this has different symptoms depending on which nerves are damaged. Peripheral neuropathy principally shows as pain, tingling or numbness in the hands and feet, but other forms can cause mobility issues, stomach/digestive difficulties, breathing problems or even an irregular heartbeat.
Foot problems
If diabetic neuropathy does impact your feet, then the loss of sensation may mean you cannot feel if you have been injured. Untreated wounds can become infected, or you may develop ulcers. In severe cases, it could even lead to amputation. This is why feet should be kept clean, dried properly and inspected regularly.
Eye problems
Blindness is a rare but possible complication of diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy is when diabetes specifically damages the blood vessels in the eye. Even without full blindness, this can limit your vision. Type 1 diabetes also increases the risk of conditions such as glaucoma and cataracts.
Sexual dysfunction
Damaged blood vessels may reduce blood supply to the penis, causing a loss of sensation and increasing the likelihood of erectile dysfunction/impotence. Diabetes has also been associated with an increased risk of vaginal dryness, urinary tract infections and thrush. Stress from trying to manage diabetes may also contribute to sexual dysfunction.
Poor oral health
Both diabetes and some medications used to treat it can reduce the amount of saliva you produce, which means less protection for your teeth and gums. It may also mean that the saliva you do produce has higher sugar levels than normal, which may cause plaque to develop and allow bacteria to accumulate. This increases your risk of tooth decay and of developing gum disease. Gum disease can in turn increase your blood sugar even more.
Low B12
This is not a direct complication of diabetes, but rather a potential long-term side effect of prolonged metformin use. Metformin is a medication taken by many people with type 2 diabetes to help their insulin work more effectively. A B12 deficiency may lead to anaemia or peripheral neuropathy, and can cause birth defects or miscarriages if present during pregnancy.
How can I minimise the risk of long term complications from diabetes?
Good diabetes management is the most effective way to minimise the risk of diabetes-related complications developing. This means carefully monitoring your blood sugar and keeping it within the target levels. You should also be attending annual checks with a healthcare professional (including eye tests and inspections of your feet), eating a nutritionally balanced diet and exercising regularly. Avoid unhealthy habits such as smoking. Your blood pressure and cholesterol can also impact the degree of risk, so these should also be monitored and controlled.
Almost every part of the body can be impacted by diabetes if your blood sugar becomes too high and blood vessels are damaged. The best way to manage this risk is to monitor your blood sugar levels, to live a healthy lifestyle, and to check regularly for the early signs of complications.
FAQs
How does diabetes affect the body in the long term?
It can cause significant damage to the blood vessels if blood glucose is regularly or constantly too high. If blood vessels are not functioning properly, then blood cannot flow, oxygen and nutrients cannot be transported where they are needed and waste cannot be removed. This causes further damage to nerves and organs, which can in turn lead to further health complications.
What are the most common long term complications of diabetes on the body?
Nerve damage affecting the feet is particularly common. Other issues of varying degrees of frequency include an increased risk of heart attacks, heart disease and strokes, vision problems, gum disease and kidney issues. Some diabetes medications can also lead to complications of their own, such as a deficiency in vitamin B12.
How do I avoid long-term complications from diabetes?
There is no guaranteed way to avoid diabetes complications, but careful monitoring of your blood sugar and maintaining the recommended level does decrease your risk, as does having good cholesterol levels and blood pressure. To ensure any complications are spotted and treated early, attend annual checkups and regularly check your own feet.
