Diabetes-Related Complications

Diabetes related complications can be divided into short term complications (Those that impact physiology or functioning immediately or over days to weeks) and long term complications that may take months to years to develop, many of which are irreversible. 

Short term complications are directly caused by blood sugars outside of normal limits. Because of this they can be most easily managed with appropriate medication management.

Hypoglycemia  should be minimized for safety through reduction of excess medication and strong patient education on how to manage physical activity, nutrition and safe effective insulin dosage calculation.

Memory and recall can be directly impacted by chronic hyper and chronic hypoglycemia

Flexibility is impacted by both short term elevated blood sugars as well as long term hyperglycemia as connective tissues become glycated and lose flexibility. Muscle refraction time also lengthens in the immediate presence of excess glucose.

Both hyper and hypoglycemic episodes as well as swift rises and drops in blood sugar can cause increased irritability as well as fatigue, nausea and even trigger panic attacks, or arrythmias related to stress responses

Chronic hyperglycemia of even a period of days significantly increases risks of UTI, genital yeast infections and thrush

Periods of severe elevated blood sugars as well as sudden reductions in blood sugars over days can lead to vision changes, blurred vision and change in corrective lens prescriptions.

Diabetic Keto Acidosis is a life threatening short term risk of diabetes in which the body does not have sufficient insulin to provide for metabolic needs. Maintaining insulin administration and effective sick day management education is key to preventing DKA

Hyper glycemic Hyperosmolar Syndrome is a life threatening electrolyte and fluid imbalance caused by extreme elevated blood sugars. Maintaining blood sugars in range and screening for diabetes onset are key to prevention.

short term complications are important to ask about in patient encounters. A1C is a broad therapy indicator, but the presence of short term complications can indicate that the patient may be suffering from periods of poor management linked to other barriers that need to be addressed to prevent further long term complication development or diabetes distress

Long term complications are often due to a combination of issues and can be harder to diagnose due to their gradual onset, patients may not complain of symptoms until irreversible damage has occurred, so ongoing screening (beginning 5 years or less post diagnosis) for long term complications is important.