The challenge of diabetes complications.
Lowering your blood sugar level is important to reducing your risk of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) complications. Did you know that small behavior changes can make a big impact on your HbA1c and result in lifelong health benefits? You can begin making choices today to lower your risk for diabetes complications.
What kinds of diabetes complications can you expect?
There are a whole host of complications that can crop up when you are living with T2DM. We highlight a short list below:
- Blurry vision
- Blindness or diabetic retinopathy
- Diabetic neuropathy
- Kidney Failure
- Heart Disease
- Stroke
- Amputation of toes, feet, or legs
- Depression
- Skin issues
- Dental (periodontal) disease
- Neuropathy or neuropathic pain
- Pregnancy complications
- High risk for COVID severity
- Immunodeficiency
While this list is very scary, it’s important to maintain a positive attitude. Be sure to check in with yourself regularly. If you find yourself feeling down about your health and living with T2DM make sure to tell your primary care provider. You may be experiencing depression which is a common diabetes complication. Patients living with T2DM often experience depression after diagnosis, which can be compounded by pain from diabetic neuropathy1.
Do diabetes complications always appear?
Not always. Diabetes complications tend to appear after you have been living with high blood sugars for quite a while. Unfortunately, some of these complications lead to permanent damage. Small changes to your diet and physical activity routine can decrease your risk for developing complications. Losing a small amount of weight (10%) of your body can significantly lower your HbA1c and even move you back into the non-diabetic category, especially if you are over age 60.
Basic steps to begin lowering your risk for complications:
- Make regular appointments with the primary care provider.
- Have a yearly diabetes eye-exam.
- Practice good self-care
- More physical activity! The American Diabetes Association says that action is your best medicine. Check out the Halebee’s physical activity page for more fun ideas on how to add more movement to your routine.
- Improve your diet. This is no easy task, but Halebee’s nutrition blog will give you some ideas on ways to begin.
- Lower your HbA1c. Lower your blood sugar naturally using herbs, exercise, and mind-body techniques to reduce stress, inflammation, and support your immune system. Today is the day you can take charge of your health.
Halebee.com recommends more resources to help you get started.
- Talk to a certified Diabetes counselor. Learn how to naturally lower your risk of T2DM complications.
- CDC advice for how to stop put the breaks on complications.
- The CDC reminds you to think about your mental health & diabetes.
- Visit our diabetes Library to learn more about research on this area.
References:
- Semenkovich K, Brown ME, Svrakic DM, Lustman PJ.(2015) Depression in type 2 diabetes mellitus: prevalence, impact, and treatment. Drugs. 2015 Apr;75(6):577-87. doi: 10.1007/s40265-015-0347-4. PMID: 25851098.