Type 1 Diabetes: Living With Complications - What Increases Your Risk
These factors can contribute to your developing complications from type 1 diabetes.
- Having one complication. If you have one complication from diabetes, you have a higher chance of getting other complications.
- Ongoing high blood sugar over time. If your blood sugar levels are high most of the time, you have a higher chance of getting complications.
-
Length of time you have the disease. The
longer you have diabetes, even if you control your blood sugar, the more likely
you are to develop complications.
- Diabetic retinopathy. About 60% of people with type 1 diabetes get diabetic retinopathy after 10 years. Almost all have it to some degree after 20 years.2 About 25% get the advanced stage (proliferative retinopathy) after 15 years.2
- Diabetic nephropathy. Diabetic nephropathy eventually occurs in 20% to 30% of all people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.3 Without treatment to slow kidney disease, most people with type 1 diabetes will move from the early stage to the advanced stage of nephropathy in 10 to 15 years.3 Children who get nephropathy usually show the first signs of the condition after puberty.
- Heart and large blood vessel disease. About 75% of adults with diabetes have high blood pressure. People with diabetes are 2 to 4 times more likely to die from heart disease or to have a stroke.4
- Diabetic neuropathy. Most people with diabetes develop some diabetic neuropathy over the years.
-
Other risk factors. Other factors that can
raise your chance of getting complications include:
- Smoking.
- High blood pressure.
- High cholesterol.
- Family history of heart disease.
- Peripheral arterial disease.
- Psychiatric disorders (such as depression).
- Family history of diabetic complications.
- Not having health insurance for supplies and other medical expenses related to diabetes.
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WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Type 1 Diabetes: Living With Complications Topics
Is This Normal? Get the Facts Fast!
Answer:
0-69
70-130
131+
Your level is currently
If the level is below 70 and you are experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating or difficulty thinking, you will need to raise the number immediately. A quick solution is to eat a few pieces of hard candy or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. Recheck your numbers again in 15 minutes to see if the number has gone up. If not, repeat the steps above or call your doctor.
People who experience hypoglycemia several times in a week should call their health care provider. It's important to monitor your levels each day so you can make sure your numbers are within the range. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Congratulations on taking steps to manage your health.
However, it's important to continue to track your numbers so that you can make lifestyle changes if needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Your level is high if this reading was taken before eating. Aim for 70-130 before meals and less than 180 two hours after meals.
Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.
One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Did You Know Your Lifestyle Choices
Affect Your Blood Sugar?
Use the Blood Glucose Tracker to monitor
how well you manage your blood sugar over time.
This tool is not intended for women who are pregnant.
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