Complications

Find out why hypoglycemia, or low blood glucose, is dangerous; the symptoms you should look out for, and learn what you can do to avoid it.

Watch this video to know when to call the doctor for symptoms of mild, moderate, and severe hypoglycemia.

Having too little sugar (glucose) in your blood is called low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Diabetes itself doesn't cause low blood sugar. But some of the treatments for diabetes, such as pills or insulin, may put you at risk for it.

Learn what to do when you experience the symptoms of hypoglycemia.

Here are images showing how to treat low blood sugar if you have diabetes.

Learn the difference between your natural hormone glucagon and the injectable medication glucagon, and that the injectable medication works to help the liver produce glucose immediately, raising the blood glucose level.

See why hyperglycemia, or high blood glucose, is dangerous; the symptoms you should look out for, and some important strategies to avoid it.

Too much sugar (glucose) in your blood is called high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). It can be caused by eating too much food, especially carbohydrates, by not being active, or by not taking your medicine.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious problem that can happen in people with diabetes. DKA should be treated as a medical emergency. This is because it can lead to coma or death. If you have the symptoms of DKA, get medical help right away.

If you have diabetes, you need to watch for hyperglycemia. It's a dangerous condition that happens when your blood sugar is too high. If not managed well, it can cause serious complications. And when it becomes severe, it is life-threatening.

Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage blood vessels. This can lead to health problems (complications). Keeping your blood sugar in your target ranges can help prevent or delay complications.

Watch how plaque build-up within large blood vessels reduces blood flow to your heart and extremities.

Learn how diabetes can cause poor blood flow to small vessels throughout your body, and the importance of helping prevent potential blindness and kidney disease.

People with diabetes may develop eye problems such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. In this video, you'll find out more about these problems and what you can do to prevent them. The best approach is good control of your blood sugar levels. You should also have a yearly eye exam.

Understand the cause and symptoms of nerve disease. Know what symptoms to look for in your hands, feet and other organs, to be able to tell your healthcare team immediately.

Understand the health problems that people with diabetes can develop, and how working with your care providers can help prevent gum disease, urinary tract infections and difficulties with sexual functioning.

Learn some tips on how to manage and organize your medications, and the importance of telling your healthcare provider about any side effects you may be experiencing.

See how smoking affects people with diabetes and learn some strategies you can use to help you quit.

Quitting smoking/vaping or not beginning to smoke or vape can improve your diabetes self-care.

Type 2 Diabetes can lead to long-term complications. You can take an active role in your health by getting screened for any complications of diabetes early on before they are major health issues.

Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage due to diabetes. Over time, high blood sugar (glucose) can damage the tiny blood vessels that supply your nerves, especially in the legs and feet.

When you have diabetes, your feet need special care. Even a small foot problem can become very serious. So don't take your feet for granted. By working with your diabetes healthcare team, you can learn how to protect your feet and keep them healthy.

Watch these important tips on how to protect the health of your skin.

Learn how checking your feet every day can help prevent injury and keep them healthy.

This video shows how to inspect your feet for problems if you have diabetes.

Understand the importance of professional skin and feet exams, and the need to prevent injuries between healthcare visits.

Force or friction against the bottom of your foot causes the skin to thicken, forming a callus. If the skin keeps thickening, the callus presses up into the foot. This kills healthy tissue and causes pain.

Diabetes can lead to problems with your feet. Loss of feeling in your feet can make it easy to miss an injury. And poor blood circulation can let a small infection turn into a major issue. So let's learn about proper foot care.

Diabetes can lead to a number of foot complications. Fortunately, you can prevent most of these with a little extra foot care. If diabetes is not well controlled, it can cause damage to blood vessels and result in poor circulation to the foot. When the skin does not get enough blood flow, it becomes prone to pressure sores and ulcers, which heal slowly.

When you're sick, even with just a cold, your blood sugar level may rise. Ask your healthcare team to help you develop a sick-day plan for controlling blood sugar. Here are some guidelines.

Watch this to help understand how you can prepare for sick days and continue to manage your diabetes.

Watch these tips for managing your diabetes in times of an emergency or a disaster.

Learn which diabetes management supplies, medications and documents you should keep on hand in case you need to use them in an emergency.

Here are the steps for checking ketones if you have diabetes.

If you have diabetes, you are 2 to 4 times more likely to have heart disease than someone without diabetes. You can control your health risks by making some changes in your life.

Learn to work with your healthcare provider to determine your personal risk for heart attack and stroke.

Many of the lifestyle changes you make to manage diabetes also helps manage your risk for heart attack and stroke.

Watch this to help understand the importance of taking your medication as prescribed for both diabetes and heart disease risk factors, ways to store them, and tips for managing side effects.

Managing both diabetes and heart disease is stressful. Work to reduce stress in your life as stress affects both diabetes management and heart disease risk.

Learn how important it is to monitor your risk factors, know the signs and symptoms of heart attack and stroke, and what to do if you experience any.

Coping with diabetes and heart disease can leave you feeling challenged emotionally. Watch this to know some ways to find support to cope with those challenges.