COMPLICATIONS OF DIABETES

Complications are the negative effects of having a condition or illness, and there are a range of complications that may develop with diabetes. However it is important to remember that not everyone with diabetes will develop all or some of the complications. Understanding your diabetes and following the advice of your medical professional will lower your risk.

Many of the complications of diabetes are much more likely to occur if you have high blood glucose levels or high blood pressure over long periods of time. Keeping both your blood glucose level and your blood pressure at a healthy range is your best defence against developing the complications of diabetes.

Remember that every improvement you make to your blood glucose level or blood pressure will reduce your risk of developing complications. You don’t have to be in the target range to reduce your risks, although you will get the best improvement the closer your blood pressure and blood glucose are to target levels.

It may seem daunting, but the good news is that there are things you can do to reduce your risk of developing complications, and if you have already developed a complication it’s likely there are things you can do manage it.