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 nervous system (neuropathy)
- the heart (heart attack)
- the blood vessels (high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, stroke, etc.)
Diabetes is also associated with other complications, such as:
- sleep apnea
- capsulitis
- erectile dysfunction
- yeast infections
- urinary tract infections
- periodontal disease
In addition to poor blood glucose (sugar) control, other factors also contribute to the onset of diabetes complications:
- age
- heredity
- duration of the diabetes
- lifestyle
The importance of proper glycemic control.
There is a direct link between the degree of blood sugar control and the risk of complications. Two large-scale studies have shown that proper diabetes control reduces complications over the long term:
- Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT)
- UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS)
The results of the UKPDS show that improving blood sugar control by reducing A1C by 1.0% reduces the risks of microvascular complications by 37% and death from diabetes complications by 21%.