Microvascular Complications

Long term consequences are complications that have developed over many years and all have to do with how blood glucose levels can affect blood vessels. If your blood glucose levels aren't controlled damage can be done to your body's blood vessels over time. However, controlling your blood glucose levels carefully can help you avoid any of these long term consequences. So there are two types of complications done to your blood vessels: microvascular complications which is damage to small blood vessels and macrovasular complication which is damage to big blood vessels.

First lets start off with the microvasular complications. Small, damaged blood vessels don't deliver blood as well as they normally should so that usually leads to other problems having to do with your eyes, kidneys, and nerves. With your eyes cataracts and/or retinopathy can develop with retinopathy, damage to the retina, being more common. In order to avoid these problems keeping your blood glucose and having annual dilated eye check ups are important. Then also with microvascular complications comes kidney disease, or diabetic nephropathy, which can lead to dialysis and kidney transplant. Again poorly controlling your diabetes is what will eventually lead to
Your blood vessels are supposed to "feed" your nerves, but with your blood vessels damaged, your nerves then also become damaged. There are many different types of diabetic neuropathy such as: peripheral, autonomic, proximal, and focal. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is the most common form of nerve damage, and it most often affects the nerves going to the feet. This type is also the most serious because the sore on people's feet can be infected which can then spread and if left untreated you may need surgery to stop the infection. Other symptoms of this type includes: losing sensation in your feet, pain, weakness, and