Those who live with diabetes are at risk of developing any number of complications due to the nature of their disease. A big part of managing diabetes is keeping blood sugar levels under control to prevent these complications from occurring in the short- and long-term. However, patients don’t always put in the effort to keep their diabetes under control.
If you need some incentive to work harder at keeping your blood sugars stable, check out some of these common facts and statistics.
#1 Type Two Diabetes is the most common.
About 90 – 95% of all diagnoses are type two diabetes. About 1 in 10 Americans overall have a type of diabetes, but they may all not be aware of it.
#2 Diabetes Neuropathy is the most common complication.
Chronically elevated blood glucose levels can damage nerves throughout the body, leading to loss of sensation, pain, or tingling. It can also lead to impotence in men.
#3 Diabetic Kidney Disease is the reason for most dialysis and kidney transplant in developed nations.
Chronic damage to the small blood vessels in the kidneys can eventually lead to kidney failure. Although, this disease has no symptoms in its early stages.
#4 Diabetic Retinopathy is the leading cause ofblindness.
Damage to the small blood vessels in the retina causes a gradual loss of vision and ultimate blindness. Thankfully, early detection of this disease can allow patients to take steps to stop or slow its progression.
#5 Diabetes Complications make up 60% of lower limb amputations.
Neuropathy and changes in blood vessels that interfere with the circulation can result in injuries and infections that don’t heal. Eventually, these infections can cause enough damage to require amputation of the limb.
#6 Women With Gestational Diabetes have a 60% chance of developing type two diabetes later on.
Gestational diabetes occurs when a pregnant woman develops abnormally high blood sugar levels. It occurs in up to 10% of pregnancies.
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[expand title=”References“]
About diabetes. URL Link. Accessed October 15th, 2017.
Diabetes by the Numbers: Facts, Statistics, and You. URL Link. Accessed October 15th, 2017.
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