No matter whether you suffer from diabetes type 1 or diabetes type 2 you may and in majority of cases you will experience some complications related to your diabetes. Degree to which you may have those complications depends on how well you control the level of your sugar in your blood (blood glucose). The more strictly you are with your diabetes, the less chances of developing complications you have.

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Generally, complications of diabetes are divided into two groups:

·   Acute short term complications, and

·   Chronic long term complications.

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All complications are related to levels of your blood sugar.

Acute complications of diabetes are a result of either a very low level of blood sugar (hypoglycaemia), or a very high level of blood sugar (hyperglycaemia). All acute diabetic complications develop rapidly over a period of minutes and hours. The most acute common complications are:

• Hypoglycaemia – low blood sugar.
• Hyperglycaemia – high blood sugar.
• Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) – mostly complication of type 1 diabetes.
• Hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state (HHS) – complication of type 2 diabetes.

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All relevant acute complications are explained in the separate sections:

-       Click under Acute Complications – signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and how they can be prevented.

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Chronic complications of diabetes are all result of prolonged high levels of blood sugar, which leads to damages in the blood vessels, especially the micro blood vessels that are called capillaries. As a result blood circulation is poor which may harm the eyes, brain, nerves, heart, kidneys, legs and skin. All chronic diabetic complications develop progressively over a course of several months and years. The most common chronic complications are:

• Diabetic retinopathy – damage of eyes.
• Neuropathy – damage to nerves.

·        Vascular disease, atherosclerosis leading to various heart conditions

• Nephropathy – damage of kidneys.
• Diabetic feet complications.

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All relevant chronic complications are explained in the separate sections:

Go to our next Hub on Chronic Complications – signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and how they can be prevented.