The complications associated with diabetes have a common origin: too much glucose (sugar) in the blood.
If blood glucose (sugar) levels remain high too often over time, it has a damaging effect on many of the body’s organs, primarily:
- the kidneys (nephropathy)
- the eyes (retinopathy)
- the nerves (neuropathy)
- the heart (heart attack)
- the blood vessels (high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, stroke, etc.)
Diabetes is also associated with other diseases and complications, such as:
- sleep apnea
- capsulitis
- erectile dysfunction
- yeast infections
- urinary tract infections
- periodontal disease.
In addition to blood glucose (sugar) management, other factors contribute to the onset of diabetes complications such as:
- age
- heredity
- duration of diabetes
- lifestyle.
The importance of blood sugar management
There is a direct link between the degree of blood sugar management and the risk of complications. Because blood sugar management is reflected in the glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test, the A1C is the blood test used to assess the risk of complications. The higher your A1C level is, the higher your risk of complications.
Lower your A1C by 1.0% reduces the risks of microvascular complications (eyes, kidneys and nerves) by 37% and death from diabetes complications by 21%.
Helpful resources
Documents
- Kidney health and diabetes (also available in the shop)
- Heart health and diabetes (also available in the shop)
- Nerve health and diabetes (also available in the shop)
- Eye health and diabetes (also available in the shop)
External resources
Research and writing: Diabetes Québec’s team of health professionals
June 2014 (Updated July 2023)