Type 2 Diabetes: Living With Complications

What Increases Your Risk

Factors that increase your risk for complications from type 2 diabetes include:

• Having persistently high blood sugar over time. The higher your blood sugar and the longer it remains too high, the greater your risk of developing complications.
• Having the disease for a long time. The longer you have diabetes, the more likely you are to develop complications, even if blood sugar levels are controlled.
  • Diabetic nephropathy develops in 20% to 30% of people with type 2 diabetes.²
  • Diabetic retinopathy develops in more than 60% of the people with type 2 diabetes by 20 years after diagnosis.³
  • Most people with diabetes develop some diabetic neuropathy over the years, but only about 13% to 15% have noticeable symptoms.⁴
• Having one complication. You are at a higher risk for developing more complications from diabetes if you already have a complication. For example, your risk of having diabetic nephropathy is much higher if you already have diabetic retinopathy.
• Other risk factors. Smoking, psychiatric disorders (such as depression), high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or a family history of complications from diabetes may increase your risk for developing a complication. Not having health insurance coverage for supplies and other medical expenses related to diabetes care can contribute to poorer control of the disease and the development of complications.

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Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS	Last Updated: August 9, 2007
Medical Review:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Matthew I. Kim, MD - Endocrinology & Metabolism
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