Kidney disease (nephropathy): In people with diabetes, nephropathy is any of several conditions caused by changes in very small blood vessels in the kidneys. These changes cause scar formation in the kidneys, which may eventually lead to kidney failure. Patients who have had diabetes for a long time may develop nephropathy. An early sign of kidney disease is detectable protein in the urine.
Nephropathy: Kidney disease caused by damage to the small blood vessels or units in the kidneys that purify blood may develop in patients with long-standing diabetes.
Neuropathy: Nerve damage, which may occur in people who have diabetes but are poorly controlled.
Periodontal disease: Damage to the gums and tissues around the teeth. People with diabetes are more likely to develop periodontal disease than people without diabetes.
Peripheral neuropathy: A nerve injury that most often involves the feet and legs.
Peripheral vascular disease (PVD): An abnormal condition that affects blood vessels outside the heart, usually involving the hands and feet. It often results from reduced blood flow and narrowing of the arteries due to atherosclerosis. PVD may occur in people with long-term diabetes.
Impotence: Also known as “erectile dysfunction,” a persistent inability to erect or maintain an erection. Some men may become impotent after a long period of diabetes because of damage to the nerves and blood vessels in the penis. It is estimated that 50% of men diagnosed with type 2 diabetes develop impotence.
Gangrene: The death of body tissues, usually due to a lack of blood supply, especially in the legs and feet.
Gastroparesis: A type of nerve damage that affects the stomach and intestines. When suffering from this condition, food cannot be digested properly and does not pass through the stomach and intestines properly. Gastroparesis may cause nausea and vomiting because the nerve damage slows the passage of food. This type of nerve damage may also cause serious problems with low and unstable blood sugar.
Glaucoma: An eye disease associated with elevated eye pressure. Glaucoma can damage the optic nerve and cause impaired vision and blindness.