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Complications
of diabetes in the United States
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Heart disease is the leading
cause of diabetes-related deaths. Adults
with diabetes have heart disease death
rates about 2 to 4 times higher than adults
without diabetes. |
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The risk for stroke is 2 to 4 times
higher among people with diabetes. |
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About 65% of deaths among people with
diabetes are due to heart disease and
stroke. |
High blood pressure
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About 73% of adults with
diabetes have blood pressure greater than
or equal to 130/80 mm Hg or use prescription
medications for hypertension. |
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The risk for stroke is 2 to 4 times
higher among people with diabetes. |
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About 65% of deaths among people with
diabetes are due to heart disease and
stroke. |
Blindness
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Diabetes is the leading
cause of new cases of blindness among
adults aged 20-74 years. |
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Diabetic retinopathy causes 12,000 to
24,000 new cases of blindness each year.
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Kidney disease
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Diabetes is the leading
cause of end-stage renal disease, accounting
for 44 percent of new cases. |
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In 2001, 42,813 people with diabetes
began treatment for end-stage renal disease.
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In 2001, a total of 142,963 people with
end-stage renal disease due to diabetes
were living on chronic dialysis or with
a kidney transplant. |
Nervous system
disease
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About
60% to 70% of people with diabetes have
mild to severe forms of nervous system
damage. The results of such damage include
impaired sensation or pain in the feet
or hands, slowed digestion of food in
the stomach, carpal tunnel syndrome, and
other nerve problems. |
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Severe forms of diabetic nerve disease
are a major contributing cause of lower-extremity
amputations. |
Amputations
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More than 60% of nontraumatic
lower-limb amputations occur among people
with diabetes. |
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In 2000-2001, about 82,000 nontraumatic
lower-limb amputations were performed
annually among people with diabetes. |
Dental disease
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Periodontal (gum) disease
is more common among people with diabetes.
Among young adults, those with diabetes
have about twice the risk of those without
diabetes. |
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Almost one-third of people with diabetes
have severe periodontal diseases with
loss of attachment of the gums to the
teeth measuring 5 millimeters or more.
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Complications
of pregnancy
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Poorly controlled diabetes
before conception and during the first
trimester of pregnancy can cause major
birth defects in 5% to 10% of pregnancies
and spontaneous abortions in 15% to 20%
of pregnancies. |
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Poorly controlled diabetes during the
second and third trimesters of pregnancy
can result in excessively large babies,
posing a risk to the mother and the child.
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Other complications
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Uncontrolled diabetes often
leads to biochemical imbalances that can
cause acute life-threatening events, such
as diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar
(nonketotic) coma. |
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People with diabetes are more susceptible
to many other illnesses and, once they
acquire these illnesses, often have worse
prognoses. For example, they are more
likely to die with pneumonia or influenza
than people who do not have diabetes.
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