Long Term Complications of Diabetes Mellitus

There are many long term complications of Diabetes Mellitus! After 35 years of type 1 diabetes, I can point out many that I experienced from my lifestyle of diabetes. There are many complications I have not experienced, and that’s not to say they are any less serious from long term complications. I share my diabetes experiences in hope that I will help others live a healthy diabetic life!

1. Eye Complications – Early on in life I got glasses. As a teen I had laser surgery to help stop where blood vessels had burst in the eye. I think this helped with my vision for many years. It’s been in the last 5 years that my vision has deteriorated.
2. Skin Complications – I never had an issue with my skin but I mention it because any time I get a cut or scrape, my skin takes 3-5 times as long to heal. This also means my scars tend to be permanent or it takes years for the scars to disappear completely.
3. High Blood Pressure – (Hypertension) I got this early on in my life and have used medications to control the blood pressure. As is life, with stress, the blood pressure seems to get high much quicker then when I was a child.
4. Dental Problems – As a child I got a lot of cavities and had a lot of dental work done. I didn’t think much of it since technology has innovated ways so it doesn’t hurt much nor can you tell you’ve had much work. As I have gotten older, I have noticed more problems with gum disease. My teeth have also colored from the many medications I am on. Dentists and Doctors always ask me if I smoke or drink. (I don’t do either!)
5. Gastroparesis – (Nerve damage to the stomach) I noticed this problem in my 20′s. I remember eating a doughnut and still feeling full by lunch time. I thought it was odd. Later I found out my problem. Today I try not to eat later then 7PM, never eat large meals and exercise to help my digestive system. It is definitely an inconvenience. If I do eat late, I suffer with pain and bloating while I try to sleep.
6. Kidney Disease – (Nephropathy) I started to see my kidneys fail in my late teens. I was told I would need a kidney transplant or go on renal dialysis. (Dialysis involves regular visits to clean your blood and take the poisonous toxins out of your body. A normally functioning kidney prevents this.) Several years later, I started to get nauseated every morning. As my kidney function got worse, I needed a kidney transplant. I was blessed to get my Mom’s kidney in my 20′s.

These are some long term complications of Diabetes Mellitus. Don’t let these long term complications scare you! Let it help you take charge of your diabetes so you can live a long and healthy life as a diabetic!!