Sunday, February, 12, 2012

Type 1 diabetes

Table of Contents

TREATING HIGH KETONES

See: Diabetic ketoacidosis


Support Groups

For additional information and resources, see diabetes support group.


Expectations (prognosis)

Diabetes is a lifelong disease for which there is not yet a cure. However, the outcome for people with diabetes varies. Studies show that tight control of blood glucose can prevent or delay complications to the eyes, kidneys, nervous system, and heart in type 1 diabetes. However, complications may occur even in those with good diabetes control.


Complications

After many years, diabetes can lead to serious problems with your eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, blood vessels, and other areas in your body.

If you have diabetes, your risk of a heart attack is the same as someone who has already had a heart attack. Both women and men with diabetes are at risk. You may not even have the typical signs of a heart attack.

In general, complications include:

  • Cataracts
  • Damage to the blood vessels that supply the legs and feet (peripheral vascular disease)
  • Foot sores or ulcers, which can result in amputation
  • Glaucoma
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Kidney disease and kidney failure (diabetic nephropathy)
  • Macular edema
  • Nerve damage, which causes pain and numbness in the feet, as well as a number of other problems with the stomach and intestines, heart, and other body organs (diabetic neuropathy)
  • Stroke
  • Worsening of eyesight or blindness due to diabetic retinopathy (eye disease)

Review Date: 05/10/2010
Reviewed By: Ari S. Eckman, MD, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)