Kidney failure
Diabetes is the top cause of kidney failure in the United States, accounting for 44% of new cases in 2002, according to the National Institutes of Health. About 10% to 40% of people with type 2 diabetes develop kidney failure. To prevent kidney problems, you should have routine tests for protein in the urine, which is one of the first signs of kidney failure. More advanced kidney failure causes other symptoms, including swelling of the ankles or legs, increased blood pressure, nighttime urination, and a reduced need for insulin or other medications.
Blood-pressure-lowering drugs and other interventions can slow down kidney failure. The only treatment for end-stage renal disease, the most advanced stage of kidney failure, is dialysis or kidney transplant.
Stroke
About two-thirds of people with diabetes die of heart disease or stroke.
Rapid treatment is crucial if you're experiencing stroke symptoms (there's a three-hour window after a stroke starts in which doctors can use a clot-dissolving drug). If you think someone is having a stroke, ask them to do three things: try to smile (one side may droop); raise their hands over their head (difficulty on one side); and say a sentence (speech may be slurred). Call 911 if they have any of these symptoms, according to the National Stroke Association.
Vision loss
Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults ages 20 to 74. You should be checked by an eye doctor regularly, as retinopathy can often be asymptomatic. You should also call your eye doctor if you have any sudden changes in your vision, such as blurriness or spots in your field of vision where you cannot see. Depending on how far your retinopathy has advanced, there are different forms of laser surgery available as treatment.
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