The possible long term complications of diabetes include:
- Cardiovascular disease: This is damage to the heart and blood circulation caused by fatty deposits on the linings of blood vessels around the body.
- Retinopathy: This is the most common cause of blindness among people aged 16 and 64 in the UK as it affects the blood vessels supplying the retina – the seeing part of the eye.
- Neuropathy: This is also known as nerve damage. There are many different types of neuropathy depending ion which nerve has been damaged. Sensory neuropathy is the most common type of neuropathy and mainly affects the nerves in the feet and the legs.
- Nephropathy: This is also known as kidney or renal disease.
