Diabetic complications: what to watch for and what to do now

Most serious problems from diabetes are preventable if you catch warning signs and act. This page gives clear, practical steps you can use today to reduce risk and spot trouble early. No fluff — just what matters: symptoms to watch, tests to get, and daily habits that help.

Common complications and their early signs

Neuropathy (nerve damage): starts as numbness, tingling, burning, or a loss of feeling in your feet or hands. You might drop things more or not feel hot water. Retinopathy (eye damage): blurred vision, new floaters, or sudden vision loss. Kidney disease: swelling in ankles, needing to pee more at night, or protein found on a urine test. Heart and blood vessel problems: chest pain, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue. Foot problems and infections: sores that don’t heal, increased redness, or bad-smelling wounds.

If you notice any of these, see a clinician quickly. Early treatment often stops damage from getting worse.

Simple, practical prevention steps

Manage blood sugar: follow your treatment plan and check A1C as your doctor recommends. Many people aim for A1C targets discussed with their clinician (often around 7% but it depends on you). Keep a home record of fingerstick readings and trends to share with your care team.

Control blood pressure and cholesterol: high blood pressure and high LDL raise the risk for heart, kidney, and eye problems. Take meds if prescribed and ask your provider about targets for you.

Daily foot care: look at your feet every day, wash and dry them, check between toes, keep nails trimmed straight, and wear well-fitting shoes. If you find a cut, treat it fast and call your clinic if it doesn’t start to heal in a few days.

Regular screening: get a dilated eye exam at least once a year, urine tests for albumin and kidney function annually, and a full foot exam at each clinic visit. Get dental checkups and vaccines like the annual flu shot—these lower infection risks.

Healthy habits that matter: aim for about 150 minutes a week of moderate activity if you can, choose whole foods—vegetables, lean protein, and fiber—and cut sugary drinks. Quit smoking; it worsens every diabetes complication.

Medications: take diabetes, blood pressure, and cholesterol medicines exactly as prescribed. If side effects or cost are a problem, talk to your provider or pharmacist—there are often alternatives or support programs.

When to seek urgent care: chest pain, sudden weakness or trouble speaking, severe shortness of breath, sudden vision loss, high fever with an infected wound, or signs of a spreading foot infection. Don’t wait—these can be emergencies.

Small changes add up. Check your feet, keep follow-up tests, stay active, and talk openly with your care team. If you want, we can point you to articles on foot care, eye screening, or how to manage A1C — pick a topic and I’ll pull up the best reads from our site.