That is tragic because preventable complications of diabetes may be developing in these people during this time. People in certain racial or ethnic groups are also more likely to have diabetes. These populations are also more likely to develop the complications of diabetes. The complications of diabetes can be devastating. They affect many different areas of the body including the eyes, feet and legs, kidneys, and heart.
Diabetes also causes birth defects in infants of mothers with diabetes.
Diabetes-related complications frequently lead to disability or even death. Eye Disease Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in working age Americans. It is estimated that each year 300-700 people in Washington become blind due to diabetes. The incidence of proliferative retinopathy, the precursor to diabetes-related blindness, increases with age and duration of diabetes. Regular screening for diabetic retinopathy is necessary because treatment should take place before symptoms of vision loss develop.