Diabetes is a relatively common disease in daily life, yet its dangers are significant, often leading to numerous complications with varying degrees of severity. Therefore, diabetes and its complications must be taken seriously. Today, we will provide a detailed overview of the complications associated with diabetes and their risks.Diabetes itself may not necessarily cause harm, but prolonged elevated blood sugar levels can damage large and small blood vessels, threatening the heart, brain, kidneys, peripheral nerves, eyes, feet, and more. According to the World Health Organization, diabetes has over 100 known complications, making it the disease with the most complications currently identified. Over half of diabetes-related deaths are caused by cardiovascular and cerebrovascular issues, while 10% are due to kidney disease. The risk of amputation due to diabetes is 10 to 20 times higher than in non-diabetic individuals.Therefore, preventing diabetes complications is a critical societal issue. Beyond regular blood glucose monitoring, diabetic patients must undergo periodic blood biochemistry tests, cardiac/cerebral/renal function assessments, and fundus examinations. 1. Diabetic Nephropathy This ranks among the most significant complications for diabetics. Its incidence in China is rising, now becoming the second leading cause of end-stage renal disease, surpassed only by various glomerulonephritis conditions.Due to its complex metabolic disturbances, once it progresses to end-stage renal disease, treatment often proves more challenging than for other kidney diseases.
2. Diabetic Eye Complications
(1) Diabetic retinopathy is the most significant manifestation of diabetic microvascular disease. It is a retinal disorder characterized by specific changes and ranks among the severe complications of diabetes.Clinically, it is classified based on the presence or absence of retinal neovascularization: diabetic retinopathy without neovascularization is termed nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (also known as simple or background retinopathy), while diabetic retinopathy with retinal neovascularization is termed proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
(2) Diabetic uveitis generally presents in four forms: ① Uveitis directly associated with diabetes itself; ② Infectious uveitis, where diabetic patients face significantly higher risk of endogenous infectious endophthalmitis compared to the general population; ③ Uveitis occurring alongside specific types of uveitis, though it remains unclear whether this is coincidental or intrinsically linked; ④ Infectious or aseptic endophthalmitis following intraocular surgery.It predominantly affects middle-aged and elderly diabetic patients.
(3) Diabetic cataracts occur in adolescent diabetic patients with poorly controlled blood glucose. They are typically bilateral, progress rapidly, and may develop into complete opacity within days, weeks, or months.
3. Diabetic Foot
The foot serves as a complex target organ for diabetes, a multisystem disease.Diabetic patients, due to peripheral neuropathy combined with peripheral vascular disease and excessive mechanical stress, may experience destruction and deformity of the foot's soft tissues and musculoskeletal system. This leads to a spectrum of foot problems ranging from mild neuropathic symptoms to severe ulcers, infections, vascular disease, Charcot arthropathy, and neuropathic fractures.