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COMMON CONSEQUENCES OF DIABETES
Diabetes can damage the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves
over time.
Diabetic retinopathy is an important
cause of blindness, and occurs as a result of long-term accumulated
damage to the small blood vessels in the retina. After 15 years of
diabetes, approximately 2% of people become blind, and about 10%
develop severe visual impairment.
Diabetic neuropathy is damage to the
nerves as a result of diabetes, and affects up to 50% of people with
diabetes. Although many different problems can occur as a result of
diabetic neuropathy, common symptoms are tingling, pain, numbness, or
weakness in the feet and hands.
Combined with reduced blood flow,
neuropathy in the feet increases the chance of foot ulcers and eventual
limb amputation.
Diabetes is among the leading causes of
kidney failure. 10-20% of people with diabetes die of kidney failure.
Diabetes increases the risk of heart
disease and stroke. 50% of people with diabetes die of cardiovascular
disease (primarily heart disease and stroke).
The overall risk of dying among people
with diabetes is at least double the risk of their peers without
diabetes.
ADAPTED FROM THE
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)
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