Diabetes: Managing risks

Diabetes can cause problems associated with digestion in your stomach as the result of a condition called gastroparesis. Gastroparesis may be caused by damage of the vagus nerve when blood sugar has been high for a period of years.

Diabetes is a disorder caused by an excessive amount of glucose (blood sugar) in the bloodstream, which can damage nerves and lead to the condition called diabetic neuropathy.

Diabetes is a major cause of heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in Canada. Diabetes is also the biggest cause of blindness and kidney failure in adults.

Adults who are overweight or obese are more likely to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (diabetes that is most often diagnosed in adulthood). In fact, approximately 80% to 90% of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese.

Find out how smoking multiplies the health risks for people with diabetes.

About half of those who have diabetes will develop early signs of kidney damage. Unfortunately, though, early kidney damage has few symptoms, so it's important for people with diabetes to have regular tests to check their kidney function. It's also important to be aware of the risk of kidney damage so that you can do as much as you can to minimize it.

Having diabetes puts you at higher risk for a number of cardiovascular (heart and circulation system) problems.

In order to function properly, your heart needs a large and continuous stream of oxygen-enriched blood, which is supplied directly to your heart muscle through your coronary arteries. If your coronary arteries become clogged, blocked, inflamed, infected, or injured, the blood flow to your heart will be reduced, which can cause injury to your heart muscle and in turn lead to heart disease or cardiovascular disease (CVD).

A woman with diabetes can certainly have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. However, pregnant women need specialized care before and during the pregnancy in order to minimize potential risks to the mother and the baby.

People with diabetes are at risk for a number of complications that may affect their sex life. Most of these issues are caused by having high blood sugar levels over a period of years.