Complications of diabetes

Diabetes complication
SpecialtyEndocrinology

Complications of diabetes are secondary diseases that are a result of elevated blood glucose levels that occur in diabetic patients. These complications can be divided into two types: acute and chronic. Acute complications are complications that develop rapidly and can be exemplified as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state (HHS), lactic acidosis (LA), and hypoglycemia.[1] Chronic complications develop over time and are generally classified in two categories: microvascular and macrovascular. Microvascular complications include neuropathy, nephropathy, and retinopathy; while cardiovascular disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease are included in the macrovascular complications.[2]

The complications of diabetes can dramatically impair quality of life and cause long-lasting disability. Overall, complications are far less common and less severe in people with well-controlled blood sugar levels.[3][4][5] Some non-modifiable risk factors such as age at diabetes onset, type of diabetes, gender, and genetics may influence risk. Other health problems compound the chronic complications of diabetes such as smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, and lack of regular exercise. Complications of diabetes are a strong risk factor for severe COVID-19 illness.[6]

  1. ^ Holleman F (2014-08-18), "Acute and chronic complications of diabetes (revision number 30)", Diapedia, Diapedia.org, doi:10.14496/dia.7104085117.30 (inactive 1 November 2024), retrieved 2023-09-17{{citation}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2024 (link)
  2. ^ Deshpande AD, Harris-Hayes M, Schootman M (November 2008). "Epidemiology of diabetes and diabetes-related complications". Physical Therapy. 88 (11): 1254–1264. doi:10.2522/ptj.20080020. PMC 3870323. PMID 18801858.
  3. ^ Nathan DM, Cleary PA, Backlund JY, Genuth SM, Lachin JM, Orchard TJ, et al. (December 2005). "Intensive diabetes treatment and cardiovascular disease in patients with type 1 diabetes". The New England Journal of Medicine. 353 (25): 2643–2653. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa052187. PMC 2637991. PMID 16371630.
  4. ^ "The effect of intensive diabetes therapy on the development and progression of neuropathy. The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial Research Group". Annals of Internal Medicine. 122 (8): 561–568. April 1995. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-122-8-199504150-00001. PMID 7887548. S2CID 24754081.
  5. ^ "Subject Index", Vascular and Neurologic Complications of Diabetes Mellitus, Frontiers in Diabetes, vol. 8, S. Karger AG, pp. 243–255, 1987, doi:10.1159/000413896, ISBN 978-3-8055-4452-8, retrieved 2023-09-17
  6. ^ Kompaniyets L, Pennington AF, Goodman AB, Rosenblum HG, Belay B, Ko JY, et al. (July 2021). "Underlying Medical Conditions and Severe Illness Among 540,667 Adults Hospitalized With COVID-19, March 2020-March 2021". Preventing Chronic Disease. 18: E66. doi:10.5888/pcd18.210123. PMC 8269743. PMID 34197283.