Common Diabetes Complications

When you have diabetes, it’s important to take care of yourself with consistency and compassion. Chronic high blood sugar can lead to complications such as:

• Dental problems
• Digestive issues
• Erectile dysfunction
• Eye problems
• Infections (such as your feet)
• Kidney disease
• Nerve damage (neuropathy)
• Skin challenges
• Stroke

Diabetes Care Tips

These complications can turn into serious health issues if they aren’t addressed properly. The good news is you can keep your diabetes under control by turning healthy choices into habits. Stay healthy with diabetes and live life to the fullest by following these tips:

Check Your Glucose Regularly

By monitoring your glucose numbers, you can learn how your body responds to different foods, exercise and medications. With this data, you can better avoid serious diabetes complications such as eye problems, heart disease and stroke. Continuous glucose monitors are helpful to track how your body’s responses and patterns.

Don’t Smoke

Smoking can make it harder to keep your diabetes under control. It can also increase your odds of a host of health issues like blood flow problems to your legs and feet, gums, eyes, kidneys and heart diseases, as well as nerve damage.

Give Your Feet Extra Attention

Diabetes can damage nerves that would normally alert you to pain. Check your feet and toes carefully once a day. Look and feel for dry skin, swelling, hot spots, calluses or cuts. If it’s hard to see the bottoms of your feet, a mirror can help. Use warm water to wash them gently. Then, dry them and apply lotion to moisturize them. Don’t use lotion between the toes.

Go to Your Doctor’s Appointments

Keep your regularly scheduled visits with your provider and seek treatment immediately if you notice a problem, such as a possible foot infection.

Take Good Care of Your Teeth

Keeping your smile healthy is important because high blood sugar can lead to more sugar in your saliva. Cavities and gum disease can result. To keep your teeth in good shape, brush them thoroughly with a fluoride-containing toothpaste twice a day. Floss at least once a day and don’t skip out on your dentist appointments.

Take Your Medicine as Directed

Your health care provider may prescribe medicine to control your blood sugar, blood pressure and/or cholesterol. Follow their instructions carefully to manage your diabetes.

Connect With Your Primary Care Physician

Through all the ups and downs of living with diabetes, remember that your primary care physician is there to help answer any questions you have about your care. Your primary care physician help you navigate the best course of care for your condition as you learn to take charge of your whole health.

If you need help finding a primary care physician, please call the Member Experience Center at 855-747-7476 for care that makes you feel whole.