In April 2025, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) released the latest IDF Diabetes Atlas 11th Edition. Reports show that in 2024, 589 million adults aged 20-79 were living with diabetes worldwide, with approximately 3.4 million dying from diabetes or its complications, accounting for 9.3% of all-cause mortality in this age group. In terms of complications:
- People with diabetes have a 72% increased risk of heart attack
- A 52% increased risk of stroke
- An 84% increased risk of heart failure
- More than one in ten individuals with diabetes retinopathy face the risk of blindness or are already blind. [1]
In high-income countries, diabetes is a main cause of blindness, cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, and lower-limb amputation. Diabetes itself is not the main concern; what truly affects quality of life and shortens life expectancy are the systemic complications caused by long-term high blood sugar.
However, many complications can be prevented or delayed.
Common Diabetes Complications
When blood glucose remains elevated over long periods, it gradually erodes the human body system, leading to a series of complications: [2]
1. Cardiovascular Disease
This is the leading cause of death for people with diabetes. High glucose levels damage the lining of the arteries, making the vessel walls rough and inelastic, while promoting the formation of fatty plaques (atherosclerosis), leading to heart attacks, coronary artery disease, and heart failure.
2. Chronic Kidney Disease
Also known as diabetic nephropathy, it is the leading cause of kidney failure. Long-term high blood sugar can damage the kidney filtration system and cause proteins that should not be filtered out to enter the urine, a condition known as microalbuminuria.
As it progresses, kidney filtration function continues to decline, leading to massive proteinuria. At this stage, kidney damage is irreversible, requiring dialysis or a transplant.
3. Neuropathy
Nerve damage is mainly divided into peripheral and autonomic neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy affects the legs and feet. It can manifest as tingling, numbness, or burning pain. Over time, loss of sensation makes it difficult to feel injuries.
Autonomic neuropathy influences the nerves that control your body systems, damaging cardiovascular, digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems, etc.
4. Diabetic Foot
A combination of neuropathy and poor circulation (peripheral artery disease) makes foot ulcers common. If not treated, they can result in severe infections and even amputation.
5. Retinopathy
Diabetes is a leading cause of blindness in adults. It harms the small blood vessels in the retina, leading to leakage or abnormal vessel growth that obscures vision.
6. Stroke
Most strokes occur when blood clots block vessels in the brain or the neck. People with diabetes face double the risk of stroke compared to others.
The mechanism is similar to that of cardiovascular disease: hyperglycemia accelerates atherosclerosis in the cerebral arteries, leading to the formation of plaques. When these plaques detach, they can easily block vessels.
7. Diabetic Ketoacidosis
This is an acute, life-threatening complication. Insufficient insulin prevents cells from using glucose for energy. The body begins to break down fat quickly, creating ketones that turn the blood acidic.
Clinical manifestations include thirst, frequent urination, and vomiting. In severe cases, confusion or even coma may develop. It often occurs when blood sugar is dangerously high.
How to Prevent Diabetes Complications?
The good news is that most diabetes complications are not an inevitability. Effective preventing complications strategies focus on daily habits, monitoring, and early intervention.
1. Monitor and Control Your Blood Sugar
Most complications are caused by long-term high blood sugar, so the most important thing is to keep your glucose levels within the normal limits. General target ranges recommended for many adults with diabetes include:
- Pre-meal (fasting): 4 to 7 mmol/L (72-126 mg/dL).
- Post-meal (1-2 hours after eating): Below 9 mmol/L (162 mg/dL) for type 1 diabetics, and below 8.5 mmol/L (153 mg/dL) for type 2 diabetics. [3]
Using a home blood glucose monitor to track the effects of food, exercise, and medication. For example, the Sinocare Safe AQ UG Blood Glucose Monitor integrates blood glucose and uric acid testing functions, helping with early warning of diabetic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease.
2. Control Blood Pressure and Cholesterol
High blood pressure and cholesterol make diabetes complications worse by increasing strain on blood vessels. Managing both helps reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney damage.
- Blood Pressure: Aim for a target of less than 130/80 mmHg. High pressure forces blood through damaged vessels with more intensity.
- Cholesterol: Focus on lowering LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. Many doctors prescribe drugs to diabetes patients to stabilize arterial plaques.
3. Regular Physical Examinations
Early detection is essential to preventing complications. It’s better to do:
- Eye exams to detect retinopathy
- Kidney function tests to monitor early damage
- Foot exams to check infections or ulcers
4. Do Not Smoke
If you smoke, avoid smoking or quit as much as possible, as it increases risks for diabetes complications.
It worsens blood circulation and significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Moreover, it leads to infections and ulcers that cannot heal, increasing the risk of removing lower-limbs.
5. Limit Alcohol Intake
Alcohol can interfere with your medications and cause unpredictable swings in blood sugar. If you choose to drink, do so in moderation and never on an empty stomach, as this can cause severe low blood sugar.
6. Pay Attention to Foot Care
It’s a common type 2 diabetes complication. If foot infections or ulcers go unnoticed due to reduced nerve sensitivity and fail to heal because of poor blood flow, they can develop into diabetic foot. In most cases, diabetic foots are preventable:
- Inspect feet for cuts, redness, or ulcers.
- Keep feet clean and dry. Use moisturizer on your feet, but avoid the area between the toes to prevent fungal growth.
- Never walk barefoot, even indoors. Wear well-fitting shoes and seamless socks to avoid friction.
- Be extremely careful when trimming nails; cut them straight across.
- If you see an ulcer or a wound that isn’t healing, see a doctor immediately.
7. Maintain Healthy Eating Habits
Healthy eating habits for diabetics include:
- Eating more vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein
- Reducing sugar and refined carbohydrates
- Controlling portion sizes
- Avoiding processed foods, etc
These help better long-term glucose control and lower the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus with complications.
8. Take Care of Your Teeth
High blood sugar levels increase the glucose in your saliva, which feeds bacteria in the mouth. This leads to gum disease (periodontitis), which in turn can make blood sugar more difficult to control. Brush your teeth twice daily, floss regularly, and visit your dentist at least twice a year.
9. Engage in Moderate Exercise
Exercise boosts insulin sensitivity and helps regulate blood sugar levels. Recommended activities include walking, swimming, cycling, yoga, dancing, stretching, etc.
You can exercise for 30 minutes a day. This helps reduce risks linked to uncontrolled type 2 diabetes.
10. Treat Early-Stage Lesions
Small health issues should never be ignored. For example, the presence of protein in the urine, minor retinal abnormalities, or hard-to-heal ulcers on the feet.
These signs indicate that you should see a doctor as early as possible to prevent them from developing into serious long-term complications.
Ultimately, managing diabetes is about control. With the right approach, long-term complications of diabetes can often be delayed or avoided. If you are searching for a blood sugar monitoring device, visit the Sinocare website to choose a suitable one!
