Symptoms of Diabetes Complications
Symptoms of
diabetes
complications can develop when you have
prediabetes
, diabetes that has not been diagnosed
early, and even diabetes that has been treated.
Complications of diabetes and symptoms of serious problems
|
Complication of diabetes
|
Consequences
|
Symptoms of consequences
|
Small blood vessel (microvascular)
diseases
- Weakening of small blood vessels called
capillaries causes blood to leak from the vessel.
|
Eyes: Damage to the retina, the part of the eye that captures
images
|
- Impaired vision and, in severe cases,
blindness
|
|
Kidneys: Impaired functioning of the kidneys, and, in severe
cases, kidney failure
|
- Fatigue
- Muscle
cramping
- Inability to think clearly
- Swelling from
retention of body fluids
|
|
Nerves: Decreased sensation, especially common in the feet
and hands; weakness; abnormal functioning of some organ systems
|
- Numbness, tingling, weakness in the feet
and hands
- Swings in heart rate and blood
pressure
- Nausea and vomiting from abnormal functioning of the
digestive tract
- Impotence in men
- Double vision
|
Large blood vessel (macrovascular)
disease
- Increased
plaque
in large blood vessels throughout the body can
cause
heart attacks
,
strokes
, and compromised circulation.
|
Heart disease: Problems with the circulatory system that
weaken the heart
|
- Chest pain and shortness of
breath
- Decreased tolerance for physical
activity
- Chronic fatigue
- Swelling of the legs and
ankles
- Palpitations (feeling like the heart is racing or
pounding)
|
|
Strokes: Blood supply to the brain is cut off, usually caused
by a blood clot in an artery.
|
- Impaired speech
- Inability to
see
- Inability to walk
- Paralysis on one side of the
body, numbness, or tingling
|
|
Peripheral arterial disease
: Blood has trouble
reaching the extremities, such as the hands and feet.
|
- Pain in the calves when
walking
- Coolness of the lower extremities
- Loss of hair
on the legs
- Ulcers that do not heal promptly, on the legs
|
| Impaired immune system functioning |
Frequent infections, sometimes with unusual types of bacteria
and
fungus
|
- Symptoms associated with a variety of
infectious diseases, including fever, abscesses, and redness
|
ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer David C.W. Lau, MD, PhD, FRCPC - Endocrinology
Current as ofNovember 20, 2015
Current as of:
November 20, 2015
