With diabetes, the level of glucose — sugar — in your blood is too high. Glucose comes from the food you eat, and a hormone called insulin helps it get into your cells, where it gives them energy.
- In type 1 diabetes, the body does not make insulin.
- In type 2 diabetes, the body does not make or use insulin well.
Without enough insulin, glucose stays in the blood.
Complications over time
Too much glucose in the blood, over a long time, can cause:
| Problem | Why it happens |
|---|---|
| Eye disease | changes in fluid levels, swelling in the tissues, and damage to the blood vessels of the eyes |
| Foot problems | nerve damage and poorer blood flow to the feet |
| Gum disease and other dental problems | extra glucose in saliva helps harmful bacteria grow in the mouth |
| Heart disease and stroke | damage to blood vessels and to the nerves that control the heart and blood vessels |
| Kidney disease | damage to the blood vessels in the kidneys; high blood pressure, which many people with diabetes develop, can damage them too |
| Nerve problems (diabetic neuropathy) | damage to nerves and to the small blood vessels that bring them oxygen and nutrients |
| Sexual and bladder problems | nerve damage and poorer blood flow to the genitals and bladder |
| Skin conditions | some come from changes in small blood vessels and reduced circulation |
In the mouth, the bacteria combine with food to form plaque, a soft, sticky film. Plaque also forms from foods that contain sugars or starches. Some kinds of plaque cause gum disease and bad breath; others cause tooth decay and cavities.
People with diabetes are also more likely to get infections, including skin infections.
Highs and lows
Watch for blood glucose that is too high (hyperglycemia) or too low for you (hypoglycemia). Either can come on quickly and become dangerous. Causes include:
- another illness or an infection;
- certain medicines;
- not getting the right amount of diabetes medicine.
To help prevent them, take your diabetes medicines correctly, follow your diabetes eating plan, and check your blood glucose regularly.
Sources
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, "Diabetes Complications," drawing on the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIH). https://medlineplus.gov/diabetescomplications.html
- Rewritten in hubnx's own words.
许可协议： CC0 1.0（公有领域） · 改编自 medlineplus.gov
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