Keeping your blood sugar and blood pressure near normal and medications can slow the progress of kidney damage, and hopefully prevent kidney failure. Neuropathy may also affect nerves that regulate blood pressure, heart rate and stomach function. Others have severe, stabbing or electric-shock type pain in their legs. Still, others lose all sensation in their feet. This increases the risk for foot injury which can lead to infection, and amputation if the infection doesn't heal.
Diabetes can also affect the large blood vessels.
People with diabetes have an increased risk for heart disease, heart attacks and strokes. Keeping your cholesterol and blood pressure levels near the normal range helps to decrease your risk. Ask your provider to arrange to have a cholesterol blood test done at least once a year and to take your blood pressure at each clinic visit. Complications can occur as a result of diabetes, but there are things you can do to help prevent, delay or find these problems as early as possible. The first is to work with your health care providers to keep your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels in the best range for you.