There are no absolutes on how long a diabetic can survive after developing complications.
If a diabetic patient with complications can control the disease with timely treatment, the patient can survive for more than ten years or even decades, which may have little effect on life expectancy. If a diabetic patient develops acute complications and treatment is delayed, it may be life-threatening.
Diabetic complications include both acute and chronic complications, of which acute complications include ketoacidosis and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar coma, while chronic complications include diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic foot. In order to delay diabetic complications, diabetic patients usually need to control their blood sugar and keep it at a stable level.
Diabetic patients with complications should be treated under the guidance of a doctor.