Complications

Eye problems - Diabetes can damage and weaken the small blood vessels in the retina, the part of the eye that is sensitive to light and helps you see.  When the blood vessels are weak, they can leak fluid, which causes swelling in the eye.  The swelling blurs your vision.  The eye may attempt to repair this damage by making new fragile blood vessels.  These new blood vessels can break and bleed into the eye.  Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in working age adults.
       

Circulation problems – Continuous high blood sugar causes the blood vessels to become thicker and less flexible.  This causes poor circulation which impairs healing, especially of the feet and lower legs.  High blood sugar also causes higher levels of fat in the blood. The fat clogs the blood vessels and can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
     

Nerve damage- Nerve damage causes you to lose feeling in parts of your body or have a painful pins-and-needles-like feeling especially in your feet and legs.
    

Kidney damage – Diabetes can damage the blood vessels in the kidney so it can’t filter out the body’s waste.  The longer blood sugar levels are left uncontrolled, the greater the amount of kidney damage that can occur.  High blood pressure is also associated with poor kidney function.  It is important to keep both blood sugar and blood pressure under control as much as possible.
   

Gum disease and loss of teeth - People with diabetes can get gum disease from having high blood glucose levels for a long time. Many people who don't take care of their diabetes get gum disease.