Complications

Find out why hypoglycemia, or low blood glucose, is dangerous; the symptoms you should look out for, and learn what you can do to avoid it.

Watch this video to know when to call the doctor for symptoms of mild, moderate, and severe hypoglycemia.

If you have diabetes, you need to watch for hypoglycemia. It's a dangerous condition that happens when your blood sugar is too low. It is life-threatening.

Having too little sugar (glucose) in your blood is called low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Diabetes itself doesn't cause low blood sugar. But some of the treatments for diabetes, such as pills or insulin, may put you at risk for it.

Learn what to do when you experience the symptoms of hypoglycemia.

Here are images showing how to treat low blood sugar if you have diabetes.

Managing diabetes means developing a routine for things like meals, exercise, and taking medicine. It also means making changes in some of your activities, such as driving, to help keep you and those around you safe.

Learn the difference between your natural hormone glucagon and the injectable medication glucagon, and that the injectable medication works to help the liver produce glucose immediately, raising the blood glucose level.

See why hyperglycemia, or high blood glucose, is dangerous; the symptoms you should look out for, and some important strategies to avoid it.

Too much sugar (glucose) in your blood is called high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). It can be caused by eating too much food, especially carbohydrates, by not being active, or by not taking your medicine.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious problem that can happen in people with diabetes. DKA should be treated as a medical emergency. This is because it can lead to coma or death. If you have the symptoms of DKA, get medical help right away.

If you have diabetes, you need to watch for hyperglycemia. It's a dangerous condition that happens when your blood sugar is too high. If not managed well, it can cause serious complications. And when it becomes severe, it is life-threatening.

Having high blood sugar increases the chance of complications from diabetes. Here's what you need to know.

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) happens when there is too little glucose (sugar) in your child's blood. It can be caused by skipping meals or snacks, eating too little food, or taking too much insulin or diabetes medicine. A lot of activity can also cause low blood sugar, even hours later. In severe cases, low blood sugar can lead to seizures or passing out.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious complication of diabetes. It's a medical emergency and can lead to coma or death. Read on to learn more about DKA and how to prevent it in your child.

Without glucose you wouldn't be able to study, play, or even eat or think. But if too much glucose builds up in your blood, you can feel sick. This is called high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). High blood sugar happens when you eat too much or don't take enough insulin.

Without glucose you wouldn't be able to study, play, or even eat or think. Too little glucose can make you feel sick. This is called low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

Cognitive impairment (decline) affects your ability to think and reason. You may find you have trouble remembering, understanding, planning, or communicating. It can hamper your ability to problem-solve and make decisions. These problems can be frustrating and may lead to poor diabetes control.

As a caregiver, you can work closely with your loved one's healthcare team to simplify and support their care.

Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage blood vessels. This can lead to health problems (complications). Keeping your blood sugar in your target ranges can help prevent or delay complications.

When you have diabetes, your body needs special care. This care helps you stay healthy and prevent complications. Read on to learn details about caring for your body.

Watch how plaque build-up within large blood vessels reduces blood flow to your heart and extremities.

Learn how diabetes can cause poor blood flow to small vessels throughout your body, and the importance of helping prevent potential blindness and kidney disease.

People with diabetes may develop eye problems such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. In this video, you'll find out more about these problems and what you can do to prevent them. The best approach is good control of your blood sugar levels. You should also have a yearly eye exam.

Diabetic retinopathy is a disease that can lead to blurry, distorted vision or even blindness. It happens when diabetes harms blood vessels on the retina at the back of the eye.

Treatment may help slow the progress of diabetic retinopathy. Your treatment plan depends on your condition. You may need frequent exams to watch for changes. You may also need laser treatment and other procedures. Here's what you need to know.

Diabetic retinopathy happens when diabetes harms blood vessels in the rear of the eye. This can lead to vision loss. You can help reduce your risk of vision loss by taking care of your health. Managing your diabetes and other health problems can make diabetic retinopathy less likely.

Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that happens when diabetes harms blood vessels in the back of the eye. It can lead to vision loss. Learn what you can do to catch it early.

Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that happens when diabetes damages blood vessels in the rear of the eye, in the retina. It can lead to vision loss or even blindness. However, a treatment called laser photocoagulation may help slow or stop the disease.

You have diabetic retinopathy. This condition happens when diabetes harms blood vessels in the back of the eye. It can cause cloudy eyesight and other problems. But surgery called vitrectomy may help you see more clearly.

If you are at risk for vision loss, you may be told to check your eyesight regularly using the Amsler grid. Here is the grid and instructions for using it.

By controlling diabetes, you can maintain a healthy blood sugar level and slow any kidney damage. Read on to learn more.

Keeping your blood sugar (glucose) at a healthy level is key for managing diabetes and slowing or preventing kidney damage. Read on to learn more.

Understand the cause and symptoms of nerve disease. Know what symptoms to look for in your hands, feet and other organs, to be able to tell your healthcare team immediately.

Gastroparesis is when food moves through the stomach more slowly than normal. In someone with diabetes, it's caused by damage to the vagus nerve from chronic high blood sugar.

Understand the health problems that people with diabetes can develop, and how working with your care providers can help prevent gum disease, urinary tract infections and difficulties with sexual functioning.

Learn some tips on how to manage and organize your medications, and the importance of telling your healthcare provider about any side effects you may be experiencing.

Over time, diabetes can damage your kidneys. When kidneys stop working well, waste builds up in your body. We call this "diabetic kidney disease." You can have it and not know it. Fortunately, we have tests to look for signs of this disease. Let's take a moment to learn more.

Diabetes can damage blood vessels throughout your body. When this happens to the blood vessels in your eye, you begin to lose vision. This happens slowly. You may not realize it until it's too late. But with regular eye exams, we can catch this problem early.

See how smoking affects people with diabetes and learn some strategies you can use to help you quit.

Quitting smoking/vaping or not beginning to smoke or vape can improve your diabetes self-care.

When you have diabetes, quitting smoking is one of the most important things you can do to help your health. Both diabetes and smoking cause health problems on their own. But together they are more likely to cause serious damage to your blood vessels, eyes, and kidneys.

Type 2 Diabetes can lead to long-term complications. You can take an active role in your health by getting screened for any complications of diabetes early on before they are major health issues.

For your diabetes care, you may see your primary care provider or a specialist 2 to 4 times a year. Here are some of the regular exams and tests recommended for people with diabetes.

Print this chart to keep track of your blood sugar, blood pressure, blood lipids, urine albumin, and weight to help control your diabetes.

This eye disorder affects people with diabetes. It happens gradually. You may not notice it until your vision is damaged. And without proper care, it can lead to blindness.

Most children with diabetes need to see their healthcare provider for checkups at least 4 times a year. Your child will need tests and vaccines. Read on to learn more.

Over time, diabetes can damage the nerves that control the bladder. In both men and women, this can lead to an overactive bladder.

People with diabetes should be sure to get certain vaccines. Read on for details.

Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage due to diabetes. Over time, high blood sugar (glucose) can damage the tiny blood vessels that supply your nerves, especially in the legs and feet.

Poorly controlled diabetes can lead to gum disease, which is an infection of the gums and bone that hold the teeth in place.

When you have diabetes, your feet need special care. Even a small foot problem can become very serious. Practice self-care to protect your feet and keep them healthy.

When you have diabetes, your feet need special care. Even a small foot problem can become very serious. So don't take your feet for granted. By working with your diabetes healthcare team, you can learn how to protect your feet and keep them healthy.

Diabetes makes it harder for the body to heal. Even minor problems, like a blister, can become infected. If not treated, infections can spread and damage nearby tissues. Prompt treatment by your healthcare provider can help clear up infections and restore your health.

To treat a severe foot infection, you may be hospitalized. You may also be referred to healthcare providers who specialize in treating infections. In some cases, surgery is advised. Read on to learn more.

Watch these important tips on how to protect the health of your skin.

Learn how checking your feet every day can help prevent injury and keep them healthy.

Here are images showing how to inspect your feet for problems if you have diabetes.

This video shows how to inspect your feet for problems if you have diabetes.

Understand the importance of professional skin and feet exams, and the need to prevent injuries between healthcare visits.

Diabetes increases your chances of developing foot problems. So inspect your feet every day. This helps you find small skin irritations before they become serious infections.

Force or friction against the bottom of your foot causes the skin to thicken, forming a callus. If the skin keeps thickening, the callus presses up into the foot. This kills healthy tissue and causes pain.

With your healthcare provider's care, hot spots, small cracks, or sores can be treated before they get infected. If infection is already present, medicines will probably be prescribed. Surgery may also be needed if the infection has spread.

You have been diagnosed with pressure injuries of the foot related to diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that makes it very hard to control your blood sugar. One dangerous complication of diabetes is a higher risk of developing serious foot problems.

This term is used to describe foot problems that stem from diabetes. These problems can be difficult to treat.

Diabetes can lead to problems with your feet. Loss of feeling in your feet can make it easy to miss an injury. And poor blood circulation can let a small infection turn into a major issue. So let's learn about proper foot care.

It's not high blood sugar, heart disease, or stroke that most often puts people with diabetes in the hospital. It's their feet.

Diabetes can lead to a number of foot complications. Fortunately, you can prevent most of these with a little extra foot care. If diabetes is not well controlled, it can cause damage to blood vessels and result in poor circulation to the foot. When the skin does not get enough blood flow, it becomes prone to pressure sores and ulcers, which heal slowly.

When you're sick, even with just a cold, your blood sugar level may rise. Ask your healthcare team to help you develop a sick-day plan for controlling blood sugar. Here are some guidelines.

Watch this to help understand how you can prepare for sick days and continue to manage your diabetes.

Watch these tips for managing your diabetes in times of an emergency or a disaster.

Learn which diabetes management supplies, medications and documents you should keep on hand in case you need to use them in an emergency.

Here are the steps for checking ketones if you have diabetes.

When your child is sick, his or her blood sugar (glucose) levels may change. This may make blood glucose harder to manage. To be ready, work with your child's healthcare provider to create a sick-day plan.

The stress of illness or injury can cause blood sugar to rise and make insulin less effective. This can lead to serious problems, including diabetic coma. That's why it's important to know what to do when illness strikes.

If you have diabetes, you are 2 to 4 times more likely to have heart disease than someone without diabetes. You can control your health risks by making some changes in your life.

Diabetes is a condition where your body has trouble using a sugar (glucose) for energy. As a result, the sugar level in your blood becomes too high. This puts you at high risk for peripheral arterial disease (PAD). This is a disease of arteries in the legs. Read on to learn how diabetes can lead to PAD and affect your health.

Metabolic syndrome is a set of 5 health factors that can lead to serious health problems. The factors greatly increase your risk for diabetes, heart attack, or stroke. Extra weight with a large waist is one of the factors for metabolic syndrome.

Learn to work with your healthcare provider to determine your personal risk for heart attack and stroke.

Metabolic syndrome is a set of 5 health factors that can lead to serious health problems. The factors greatly increase your risk for diabetes, heart attack, or stroke. High blood pressure (hypertension) is one of the factors of metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome is a set of 5 health factors that can lead to serious health problems. The factors greatly increase your risk for diabetes, heart attack, or stroke.

Many of the lifestyle changes you make to manage diabetes also helps manage your risk for heart attack and stroke.

Watch this to help understand the importance of taking your medication as prescribed for both diabetes and heart disease risk factors, ways to store them, and tips for managing side effects.

Managing both diabetes and heart disease is stressful. Work to reduce stress in your life as stress affects both diabetes management and heart disease risk.

Learn how important it is to monitor your risk factors, know the signs and symptoms of heart attack and stroke, and what to do if you experience any.

Coping with diabetes and heart disease can leave you feeling challenged emotionally. Watch this to know some ways to find support to cope with those challenges.

If you have diabetes, you are twice as likely to have high blood pressure. Left untreated, high blood pressure can raise your risk for heart disease and other serious health problems.

People with diabetes are encouraged to limit the sodium in their diets to help prevent or to control high blood pressure.