Diabetes can affect many major organs in your body, which can lead to an array of serious complications when left untreated. These medical problems include:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD), or heart disease, including peripheral artery disease (PAD) and stroke
- Renal (kidney) disease
- Unhealthy cholesterol levels, which can lead to atherosclerosis
- Metabolic syndrome
- Blindness
- Nerve disease
- Limb amputations
The good news is that diabetes is treatable and often preventable. Individuals with diabetes may avoid or delay other health complications by:
- Working with their health care team to manage the disease, which may include the use of medications
- Knowing their critical health numbers
- Choosing a healthy lifestyle
This content was last reviewed on 6/28/2012.
Having type 2 diabetes greatly increases your risk of having a heart attack or stroke as well as other health complications. Learn your 10-year risk and ways you can lower it.
Our Interactive Cardiovascular Library has informative illustrations and animations to help you learn about conditions, treatments and procedures related to heart disease and stroke.
