A Person With Diabetes May Be More Likely To Have:

• A heart attack or stroke
• Impaired vision and blindness
• Decreased circulation (peripheral vascular disease)
• Foot problems and amputations
• Nerve problems
• Kidney disease
• Frequent infections
• Sexual problems

Factors That Contribute To Long-Term Diabetes Complications

• High blood glucose levels damage both small and large blood vessels.
• High blood glucose levels cause the inside wall of the blood vessel to thicken. Over time, the small vessels of the eyes, kidneys, and nerves, and the large vessels leading to the heart, head, arms, and legs can become so damaged that oxygen and other nutrients cannot reach the areas in need.
• Uncontrolled blood pressure worsens the effect of high blood glucose on both large and small blood vessels.

Ongoing preventive care with an emphasis on good blood glucose control and control of blood pressure and lipids, has been shown to significantly delay the development of long term complications.*

*Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (Type 1) and United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (Type 2).

Reprinted with permission from: InfoDek® © Copyright 2002