Diabetes

What you should know

Over many years, high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) can lead to serious problems if not treated. Kidney disease can lead to kidney failure and the need for dialysis. Blood vessel damage in the eyes can lead to blindness. When a sore forms on the foot, the combination of decreased blood flow and nerve damage in the feet can lead to the need for amputation. Heart disease and stroke can lead to death. Heart disease is, in fact, the number one cause of death in people with diabetes.
You may not want to think about these possibilities—no one really wants to. But the good news is that you can help avoid these problems by taking good care of yourself. This includes taking steps to lower your blood sugar level.

When diabetes is out of control, it means your blood sugar (blood glucose) is too high. High blood sugar may not make you feel sick. But even if you have no symptoms, controlling your blood sugar is important for your health. That’s because high blood sugar can lead to serious problems over time. When your blood sugar is not controlled, too much sugar stays in your blood for a long time. That can damage blood vessels and nerves. This damage can cause:
• Kidney disease
• Blindness
• Nerve damage
• Foot problems
• Heart disease
• Stroke