Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Complications of Diabetes
Complications of Diabetes
PBRC 2009 1
Common Potential Complications of
Diabetes
Heart Disease
Foot Complications
Kidney Disease/Kidney
Skin Complications
Transplantation Gastroparesis and Diabetes
Eye Complications Depression
Diabetic Neuropathy and Nerve
Damage
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Heart Disease
Caused by a narrowing or
blocking of the blood vessels to
your heart.
The vessels carry oxygen and
nutrients to your heart.
Vessels can become partially or
totally blocked by fatty
deposits.
A heart attack - when the blood
supply to your heart is reduced
or cut off.
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Heart Disease and Diabetes
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“The ABCs”
“A” is for A1C A1C is the blood glucose check “with a memory” over the past 2 to 3
months.
“B” is for blood The ADA recommends a blood pressure below 130/80.
pressure
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Kidney Function
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Kidney Disease
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Kidney Disease
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Who Gets Kidney Disease?
Genetics
Blood pressure
Blood sugar control
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Facts About Diabetes and
Kidney Disease
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---Eye Complications---
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Glaucoma
Pressure build-up in the eye.
Pinches the blood vessels.
Damages nerves.
Vision is gradually lost.
40% more likely to suffer from
glaucoma.
Risk increases with age and
duration of diabetes.
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Cataracts
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Cataracts
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Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a general term
for all disorders of the retina caused
by diabetes.
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Retinopathy
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Diabetic Neuropathy & Nerve Damage
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2 Common Types of Nerve Damage
Sensorimotor neuropathy:
Also known as “peripheral neuropathy”
Can cause tingling, pain, numbness, or weakness in
hands and feet.
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Keep Your Blood Glucose Levels in
Your Target Range
It is important to:
Report all possible signs of diabetic
neuropathy
Get treatment right away if you have
problems.
Take good care of your feet, checking them
every day.
Protect your feet. Wear shoes and socks that
fit well and wear them all the time.
Purchase special shoes, if they are needed.
Be careful with exercising. Some activities are
not safe for individuals with neuropathy.
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Foot complications
Skin Changes
Calluses
Foot Ulcers
Poor Circulation
Amputation
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Skin Changes and Calluses
Skin Changes:
Dry skin and feet.
Seal remaining moisture in with plain petroleum jelly,
unscented hand cream, or a similar product.
It is important not to put oils or creams between toes.
Calluses
Occur more often and build up faster.
May need therapeutic shoes and inserts.
Calluses can lead to ulcers (open sores).
Never try to cut calluses yourself– this can lead to
infection.
Let your healthcare provider cut them.
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Foot Ulcers and Poor Circulation
Foot Ulcers
Every ulcer should be seen by your health care provider
immediately.
Can result in infections, potentially leading to loss of a limb.
It is important to keep off of your feet.
Poor Circulation
Can lead to infection and delay healing.
To improve poor circulation:
Stop smoking and keep blood pressure and cholesterol
in check
Exercise improves circulation. It increases blood flow. Exercise
is a good idea for individuals who currently do not have any
open sores on the foot. Proper shoes are essential.
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Amputation
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Amputation - Prevention
Take good care of your
feet.
Always follow your health
care provider’s advice
when caring for foot
problems.
Stop smoking!
Smoking decreases blood
flow to the feet.
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Skin Complications
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Bacterial and Fungal Infections
Bacterial infections Stye
Many kinds.
Styes.
Boils.
Carbuncles.
Inflamed tissues are usually hot,
swollen, red, and painful.
Treated by antibiotics.
Fungal infections
Candida albicans is a yeast-like
fungus.
Leads to common fungal infections.
Athlete’s foot
Can be treated by medication.
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Itching and Diabetic Dermopathy
Itching
Localized.
Can be caused by a yeast infection, dry skin, or poor circulation.
Occurs often in the lower parts of the legs.
Use mild soap with moisturizer, and apply skin cream after bathing to
help resolve the issue.
Diabetic Dermopathy
Changes in the small blood vessels.
Looks like light brown, scaly patches.
The disorder most often occurs on the front of both legs.
The patches do not hurt, open up, or itch.
Dermopathy is harmless and does not require treatment.
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Atherosclerosis and Allergic Reactions
Atherosclerosis
Thickening of the arteries
Occurs at younger ages.
Can lead to skin changes.
Skin becomes hairless, thin, cool, and shiny.
Affected legs heal slowly when the skin is injured.
Allergic Reactions
In response to medications, such as insulin or diabetes pills.
If you think you are having a reaction to a medication, contact
your doctor immediately.
Report any rashes, depressions, or bumps around the insulin
injection sites immediately.
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Diabetic Blisters and
Eruptive Xanthomatosis
Diabetic Blisters
Occurs rarely in individuals with diabetes
They can occur on the backs of fingers, hands, toes, feet, and on legs or
forearms.
They are sometimes large and resemble burn blisters.
Painless and with no redness around them, they often heal themselves within
3 weeks.
The only treatment is to bring blood sugar levels under control.
Eruptive Xanthomatosis
This is a condition caused by diabetes that is out of control.
Consists of firm, yellow, pea-like enlargements in the skin.
The disorder usually occurs in young men with type 1 diabetes.
Like diabetic blisters, these bumps disappear when diabetes control
is restored.
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Digital Sclerosis and
Disseminated Granuloma Annulare
Digital Sclerosis
Consists of tight, thick, waxy skin on the back of the hands.
The finger joints become stiff and can no longer move the way they should.
Rarely, knees, ankles, or elbows also get stiff.
Happens to about 1/3 of people with type 1 diabetes
The only treatment is to bring blood sugar levels under control.
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Acanthosis Nigricans
Acanthosis Nigricans
This is a condition in which tan or brown raised
areas appear on the sides of the neck, armpits, and groin.
Usually strikes people who are overweight.
The best treatment is to lose weight.
Some creams can help the spots look better.
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Gastroparesis and Diabetes
PBRC 2009
*These symptoms may be mild
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or severe, depending on the
person.*
Complications of Gastroparesis
Gastroparesis makes it harder to manage
blood glucose.
Slower digestion can result in:
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Treatment of Gastroparesis
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Depression
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Conclusions
There are many potential complications of diabetes.
Complications can be minimized with good blood glucose control.
Discuss any developments with the physician immediately.
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Division of Education
Division of Education
Phillip Brantley, PhD, Director
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Claude Bouchard, PhD, Executive Director
Heli J. Roy, PhD, RD
Reviewed by:
Beth Kalicki
Edited : 10/ 2009
PBRC 2009 37
The Pennington Biomedical Research Center is a world-renowned nutrition research center.
Mission:
To promote healthier lives through research and education in nutrition and preventive medicine.
The research fostered in these areas can have a profound impact on healthy living and on the prevention
of common chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, hypertension and osteoporosis.
The Division of Education provides education and information to the scientific community and the public
about research findings, training programs and research areas, and coordinates educational events for the
public on various health issues.
We invite people of all ages and backgrounds to participate in the exciting research studies being
conducted at the Pennington Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. If you would like to take part, visit the
clinical trials web page at www.pbrc.edu or call (225) 763-3000.
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References
All information used was obtained from:
American Diabetes Association
http://www.diabetes.org
Copyright, 2009
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