Diabetes Complications Eye Disease Nerve Disease Kidney Disease Heart and Vascular Disease Oral Health Sexual Function Discussion Topics Common diabetes-related complications. Diabetes medicines. Smoking and diabetes. Eye Health How can diabetes harm your eyes? Diabetes is the main cause of blindness among people aged 74 years or younger. Serious eye problems occur more often among people with diabetes. It is important to find and treat eye problems early to protect your vision. Common Eye Diseases Retinopathy Causes small blood vessels in the retina (the back of the eye) to get weak and possibly leak blood. Cataracts Cause a clouding of the lens of the eye, which makes vision blurry. Glaucoma Causes increased pressure in the eye. Tips to Keep Your Eyes Healthy Get a dilated eye exam at least once a year. Visit your eye doctor right away if you See little black lines or spots that dont go away. See any red spots. See a red fog. Have a sudden change in how clearly you see. Take longer than usual to adjust to darkness. Dental Health How can diabetes harm your teeth? Diabetes can lead to or worsen gum disease that leads to tooth loss. Gum disease treatment can lower your chance of having other problems from diabetes, such as heart and kidney disease. Common Dental Problems Periodontal disease (gum disease) Bad breath that wont go away. Red or swollen gums. Tender or bleeding gums. Gums pulling away from teeth. Loose teeth. Sensitive teeth. Receding gums or teeth appearing longer. Tips to Keep Your Teeth Healthy Get a dental exam at least once a year. Work with your dental professional to create a health plan for your teeth Ask about the best way to take care of your teeth at home. Ask if you need an exam more than once a year. Ask what to do if you start to have problems with your teeth or gums. Ask your dentist to send exam results to your doctor. Foot Health How can diabetes harm your feet? Diabetes is the main cause of the loss of a toe, a foot or a leg from causes other than accidents. Diabetes can reduce the amount of blood flow to the feet. People who have diabetes can lose feeling in their feet. Tips to Keep Your Feet Healthy Visit a podiatrist (foot doctor) at least once a year. Check your feet every day Look at your bare feet for calluses, cuts, sores, blisters, red spots and swelling. Contact your podiatrist if you notice any of these problems. Use a mirror to check the bottoms of your feet if you have trouble seeing your feet. Tips to Keep Your Feet Healthy Wash your feet every day Use warm water. Do not soak your feet. Always check the bath water with your hand first. Dry your feet well. Be sure to dry between the toes. Keep your skin soft and smooth Rub a thin coat of lotion over the tops and bottoms of your feet. Do not put lotion between your toes. Wetness can cause an infection. Nerve Health How can diabetes damage your nerves? Having high blood sugar for many years can damage some nerves, as well as the nerve coverings. Nerve damage (diabetic neuropathy) may lead to Numbness, pain, and weakness in the hands, arms, feet, and legs. Diarrhea, urinary tract infections, sweating, dry skin, light- headedness. or loss of balance. See your health care provider if you have any of the symptoms associated with neuropathy. Nerve Health Diabetic neuropathy is more common in people who Have problems controlling their blood sugar levels. Have high levels of blood fat such as cholesterol. Have high blood pressure. Are overweight or older than 40 years of age. Tips to Keep Your Nerves Healthy Keep your blood sugar in your target range. Dont smoke. Lose weight if you are overweight. Follow your doctors recommendations for physical activity. Take your medications as prescribed. Kidney Health How can diabetes damage your kidneys? Diabetes can cause kidney disease (nephropathy). High blood sugar damages tiny blood vessels in the kidneys. Cells and blood vessels in the kidneys are damaged. This affects their ability to filter out waste. Waste builds up in your blood. Tips to Keep Your Kidneys Healthy Keep your blood sugar and blood pressure in your target ranges. Dont smoke. Lose weight if you are overweight. Follow your doctors recommendations for physical activity. Take your medications as prescribed. Get a kidney check, including a urine protein test, every year. Manage Your Medicines Take your medicines as directed. Keep a list of all medicines that you take. This includes the dose, frequency, and time of day taken. It is helpful to include both the generic and brand name of the drug and what you take the medicine for. Tell your pharmacist about your other medical conditions and about ALL of your medicines, even over the counter medications and natural supplements. Ask about any side effects and ask if all of your medicines are working together safely. Dont Smoke People with diabetes who smoke Are more likely to have serious health problems Heart and kidney disease. Poor blood flow in the legs and feet that can lead to infections and possible amputation. Retinopathy (eye disease). Neuropathy (nerve damage). Quit smoking. Ask for help or call I-800-QUIT-NOW ( ). Managing Your Diabetes Manage your diabetes every day by Eating healthy foods and being more active. Losing weight if you are overweight. Knowing your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol numbers and targets. Working with your health care team on a plan to monitor and manage these numbers. Quitting smoking or the use of other tobacco products. Your Diabetes Care Record Keep track of your diabetes tests and checkups. Your Diabetes Care Record Record the dates and results of your diabetes-related checkups. Each VisitDateResult Foot check Review self-care plan Weight check Review medicines Once a YearDateResult Dental exam Dilated eye exam Complete foot exam Flu shot Kidney check At Least OnceDateResult Pneumonia shot Hepatitis B shot Learning About Diabetes Learn How to Manage Your Diabetes Ask your doctor for a referral to a diabetes self- management education program recognized or accredited by the American Diabetes Association or the American Association of Diabetes Educators. American Diabetes AssociationAmerican Association of Diabetes Educators For more information, call CDC-INFO ( ) TTY , or visitTo order resources, visit