Complications of Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetic retinopathy Diabetic Retinopathy Manifestations of diabetic retinopathy include microaneurysms, intraretinal hemorrhage, exudates, macular edema, macular ischemia, neovascularization, vitreous hemorrhage, and traction retinal... read more is a common cause of adult blindness in the United States. It is characterized initially by retinal capillary microaneurysms (background retinopathy) and later by neovascularization (proliferative retinopathy) and macular edema. There are no early symptoms, but focal blurring, vitreous or retinal detachment, and partial or total vision loss can eventually develop; rate of progression is highly variable.

Screening and diagnosis are by retinal examination performed by an ophthalmologist, which should be done regularly (usually annually) in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Early detection and treatment are critical to preventing vision loss. Treatment for all patients includes intensive glycemic and blood pressure control. Panretinal laser photocoagulation is used for proliferative diabetic retinopathy and sometimes severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors such as aflibercept, bevacizumab, and ranibizumab are used for macular edema and can also be used for proliferative retinopathy, but this treatment requires frequent regular visits.

Diabetic nephropathy Diabetic Nephropathy Diabetic nephropathy is glomerular sclerosis and fibrosis caused by the metabolic and hemodynamic changes of diabetes mellitus. It manifests as slowly progressive albuminuria with worsening... read more is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease Chronic Kidney Disease Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is long-standing, progressive deterioration of renal function. Symptoms develop slowly and in advanced stages include anorexia, nausea, vomiting, stomatitis, dysgeusia... read more in the United States. It is characterized by thickening of the glomerular basement membrane, mesangial expansion, and glomerular sclerosis. These changes cause glomerular hypertension and progressive decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Systemic hypertension Hypertension Hypertension is sustained elevation of resting systolic blood pressure (≥ 130 mm Hg), diastolic blood pressure (≥ 80 mm Hg), or both. Hypertension with no known cause (primary; formerly, essential... read more may accelerate progression. The disease is usually asymptomatic until nephrotic syndrome Overview of Nephrotic Syndrome Nephrotic syndrome is urinary excretion of > 3 g of protein/day due to a glomerular disorder plus edema and hypoalbuminemia. It is more common among children and has both primary and secondary... read more or kidney failure develops.

Diagnosis is by detection of urinary albumin or decline in GFR. Once diabetes is diagnosed (and annually thereafter), urinary albumin level should be monitored so that nephropathy can be detected early. Monitoring can be done by measuring the albumin:creatinine ratio on a spot urine specimen or total urinary albumin in a 24-hour collection. A ratio ≥ 30 mg/g ( ≥ 3.4 mg/mmol) or an albumin excretion of 30 to 299 mg/day signifies moderately increased albuminuria (previously called microalbuminuria) and early diabetic nephropathy. An albumin excretion ≥ 300 mg/day is considered severely increased albuminuria (previously called macroalbuminuria), or overt proteinuria, and signifies more advanced diabetic nephropathy. Typically a urine dipstick is positive only if the protein excretion exceeds 300 to 500 mg/day.

Treatment is rigorous glycemic control combined with blood pressure control. An angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) should be used at the earliest sign of albuminuria (albumin:creatinine ratio ≥ 30 mg/g [ ≥ 3.4.mg/mmol]), to prevent progression of kidney disease because these medications lower intraglomerular blood pressure and thus have renoprotective effects. However, these medications have not been shown to be beneficial for primary prevention (ie, in patients who do not have albuminuria) (1 Diabetic nephropathy references In patients with diabetes mellitus, years of poorly controlled hyperglycemia lead to multiple, primarily vascular, complications that affect small vessels (microvascular), large vessels (macrovascular)... read more , 2 Diabetic nephropathy references In patients with diabetes mellitus, years of poorly controlled hyperglycemia lead to multiple, primarily vascular, complications that affect small vessels (microvascular), large vessels (macrovascular)... read more , 3 Diabetic nephropathy references In patients with diabetes mellitus, years of poorly controlled hyperglycemia lead to multiple, primarily vascular, complications that affect small vessels (microvascular), large vessels (macrovascular)... read more ).

Sodium-glucose cotransporter- 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors also delay progression of renal disease and should be prescribed in patients with diabetic nephropathy who have an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGRF) ≥20 mL/minute and a urine albumin:creatinine ratio ≥ 200 mg/g.

Fineronone, a nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, has also been shown to decrease the risk of progression of diabetic kidney disease and cardiovascular events and can be used in addition to, or instead of, an ACE inhibitor or ARB (4 Diabetic nephropathy references In patients with diabetes mellitus, years of poorly controlled hyperglycemia lead to multiple, primarily vascular, complications that affect small vessels (microvascular), large vessels (macrovascular)... read more ).

Diabetic neuropathy is the result of nerve ischemia due to microvascular disease, direct effects of hyperglycemia on neurons, and intracellular metabolic changes that impair nerve function. There are multiple types, including

Symmetric polyneuropathy is most common and affects the distal feet and hands (stocking-glove distribution); it manifests as paresthesias, dysesthesias, or a painless loss of sense of touch, vibration, proprioception, or temperature. In the lower extremities, these symptoms can lead to blunted perception of foot trauma due to ill-fitting shoes and abnormal weight bearing, which can in turn lead to foot ulceration and infection or to fractures, subluxation, and dislocation or destruction of normal foot architecture (Charcot arthropathy). Small-fiber neuropathy is characterized by pain, numbness, and loss of temperature sensation with preserved vibration and position sense. Patients are prone to foot ulceration and neuropathic joint degeneration and have a high incidence of autonomic neuropathy. Predominant large-fiber neuropathy is characterized by muscle weakness, loss of vibration and position sense, and lack of deep tendon reflexes. Atrophy of intrinsic muscles of the feet and foot drop can occur.

Autonomic neuropathy can cause orthostatic hypotension Orthostatic Hypotension Orthostatic (postural) hypotension is an excessive fall in blood pressure (BP) when an upright position is assumed. The consensus definition is a drop of > 20 mm Hg systolic, > 10 mm Hg... read more , exercise intolerance, resting tachycardia, dysphagia, nausea and vomiting (due to gastroparesis), constipation and/or diarrhea (including dumping syndrome), fecal incontinence, urinary retention and/or incontinence, erectile dysfunction and retrograde ejaculation, and decreased vaginal lubrication.

Radiculopathies most often affect the proximal lumbar (L2 through L4) nerve roots, causing pain, weakness, and atrophy of the lower extremities (diabetic amyotrophy), or the proximal thoracic (T4 through T12) nerve roots, causing abdominal pain (thoracic polyradiculopathy).

Cranial neuropathies cause diplopia, ptosis, and anisocoria when they affect the 3rd cranial nerve or motor palsies when they affect the 4th or 6th cranial nerve.

Mononeuropathies cause finger weakness and numbness (median nerve) or foot drop (peroneal nerve). Patients with diabetes are also prone to nerve compression disorders, such as carpal tunnel syndrome Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Carpal tunnel syndrome is compression of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. Symptoms include pain and paresthesias in the median nerve distribution. Diagnosis... read more . Mononeuropathies can occur in several places simultaneously (mononeuritis multiplex). All tend to affect older patients predominantly and usually abate spontaneously over months; however, nerve compression disorders do not.

Diagnosis of symmetric polyneuropathy is by detection of sensory deficits and diminished ankle reflexes. Loss of ability to detect the light touch of a nylon monofilament identifies patients at highest risk of foot ulceration (see figure ). Alternatively, a 128-Hz tuning fork can be used to assess vibratory sense on the dorsum of the first toe.

Electromyography and nerve conduction studies Electromyography (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Studies When determining whether weakness is due to a nerve, muscle, or neuromuscular junction disorder is clinically difficult, these studies can identify the affected nerves and muscles. In electromyography... read more may be needed to evaluate all forms of neuropathy and are sometimes used to exclude other causes of neuropathic symptoms, such as radiculopathy not caused by diabetes and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Management of neuropathy involves a multidimensional approach including glycemic control, regular foot care, and management of pain. Strict glycemic control may lessen neuropathy. Treatments to relieve symptoms include topical capsaicin cream, tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (eg, duloxetine), and antiseizure medications (eg, pregabalin, gabapentin). Patients with sensory loss should examine their feet daily to detect minor foot trauma and prevent it from progressing to limb-threatening infection.

Large-vessel atherosclerosis Atherosclerosis Atherosclerosis is characterized by patchy intimal plaques (atheromas) that encroach on the lumen of medium-sized and large arteries. The plaques contain lipids, inflammatory cells, smooth muscle... read more is a result of the hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia characteristic of diabetes mellitus. Manifestations are

Diagnosis is made by history and physical examination. Treatment is rigorous control of atherosclerotic risk factors, including normalization of plasma glucose, lipids, and blood pressure, combined with smoking cessation Smoking Cessation Most people who smoke want to quit and have tried doing so with limited success. Effective interventions include cessation counseling and pharmacologic treatment, such as varenicline, bupropion... read more , daily intake of aspirin (if indicated), and statins. A multifactorial approach that includes management of glycemic control, hypertension Hypertension Hypertension is sustained elevation of resting systolic blood pressure (≥ 130 mm Hg), diastolic blood pressure (≥ 80 mm Hg), or both. Hypertension with no known cause (primary; formerly, essential... read more , and dyslipidemia Dyslipidemia Dyslipidemia is elevation of plasma cholesterol, triglycerides (TGs), or both, or a low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level that contributes to the development of atherosclerosis... read more may be effective in reducing the rate of cardiovascular events. In contrast with microvascular disease, intensive control of plasma glucose alone has been shown to reduce risk in type 1 diabetes but not in type 2 (1, 2, 3 Macrovascular disease references In patients with diabetes mellitus, years of poorly controlled hyperglycemia lead to multiple, primarily vascular, complications that affect small vessels (microvascular), large vessels (macrovascular)... read more ). Certain diabetes medications decrease the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, including metformin and some SGLT2 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy Overview of Cardiomyopathies A cardiomyopathy is a primary disorder of the heart muscle. It is distinct from structural cardiac disorders such as coronary artery disease, valvular disorders, and congenital heart disorders... read more is thought to result from many factors, including epicardial atherosclerosis, hypertension Hypertension Hypertension is sustained elevation of resting systolic blood pressure (≥ 130 mm Hg), diastolic blood pressure (≥ 80 mm Hg), or both. Hypertension with no known cause (primary; formerly, essential... read more and left ventricular hypertrophy, microvascular disease, endothelial and autonomic dysfunction, obesity Obesity Obesity is a chronic, multifactorial, relapsing disorder characterized by excess body weight and defined as a body mass index (BMI) of ≥ 30 kg/m2. Complications include cardiovascular disorders... read more , and metabolic disturbances. Patients develop heart failure Heart Failure (HF) Heart failure (HF) is a syndrome of ventricular dysfunction. Left ventricular (LV) failure causes shortness of breath and fatigue, and right ventricular (RV) failure causes peripheral and abdominal... read more due to impairment in left ventricular systolic and diastolic function and are more likely to develop heart failure after myocardial infarction.

Patients with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus are prone to bacterial and fungal infections because of adverse effects of hyperglycemia on the function of granulocytes and T cells. In addition to an overall increase in risk for infectious diseases, individuals with diabetes have an increased susceptibility to mucocutaneous fungal infections Candidiasis (Mucocutaneous) Candidiasis is skin and mucous membrane infection with Candida species, most commonly Candida albicans. Infections can occur anywhere and are most common in skinfolds, digital... read more (eg, oral and vaginal candidiasis) and bacterial foot infections (including osteomyelitis Osteomyelitis Osteomyelitis is inflammation and destruction of bone caused by bacteria, mycobacteria, or fungi. Common symptoms are localized bone pain and tenderness with constitutional symptoms (in acute... read more ), which are typically exacerbated by lower extremity vascular insufficiency and diabetic neuropathy. Hyperglycemia is a well-established risk factor for surgical site infections.

People with diabetes have a higher risk for severe illness or death from COVID-19 COVID-19 COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Infection may be asymptomatic or have symptoms ranging from mild upper respiratory symptoms to acute respiratory... read more ; either type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes is an independent risk factor for COVID-related death (1 Infection references In patients with diabetes mellitus, years of poorly controlled hyperglycemia lead to multiple, primarily vascular, complications that affect small vessels (microvascular), large vessels (macrovascular)... read more ). In people with diabetes infected with SARS-CoV-2, higher blood glucose levels have been associated with poorer outcomes, including higher mortality. Several studies have reported an increased risk of new-onset type 1 diabetes associated with COVID-19 (2 Infection references In patients with diabetes mellitus, years of poorly controlled hyperglycemia lead to multiple, primarily vascular, complications that affect small vessels (microvascular), large vessels (macrovascular)... read more ); however, other studies have suggested this effect may be due to a delay in diagnosis due to pandemic lockdowns.

Metabolic associated steatotic liver disease Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Liver Disease (MASLD) Steatotic liver disease is due to excessive accumulation of lipid in hepatocytes. Metabolic dysfunction–associated liver disease (MASLD) includes simple fatty infiltration (a benign condition... read more (MASLD, formerly nonalcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD]), is increasingly common and represents an important comorbidity of type 2 diabetes. Some studies have found that over half of patients with type 2 diabetes have MASLD (1 MASLD references In patients with diabetes mellitus, years of poorly controlled hyperglycemia lead to multiple, primarily vascular, complications that affect small vessels (microvascular), large vessels (macrovascular)... read more ). MASLD can also occur in patients with metabolic syndrome Metabolic Syndrome Metabolic syndrome is characterized by a large waist circumference (due to excess abdominal adipose tissue), hypertension, abnormal fasting plasma glucose or insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia... read more , obesity Obesity Obesity is a chronic, multifactorial, relapsing disorder characterized by excess body weight and defined as a body mass index (BMI) of ≥ 30 kg/m2. Complications include cardiovascular disorders... read more , and dyslipidemia Dyslipidemia Dyslipidemia is elevation of plasma cholesterol, triglycerides (TGs), or both, or a low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level that contributes to the development of atherosclerosis... read more in the absence of diabetes mellitus.

Diagnosis of MASLD requires evidence of hepatic steatosis by imaging or histology, and a lack of other causes of fat accumulation (such as alcohol consumption or medications that cause fat accumulation) (2 MASLD references In patients with diabetes mellitus, years of poorly controlled hyperglycemia lead to multiple, primarily vascular, complications that affect small vessels (microvascular), large vessels (macrovascular)... read more ). MASLD occurs when there is ≥ 5% hepatic steatosis but no evidence of hepatocellular injury. In contrast, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), formerly nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), requires both hepatic steatosis (≥ 5%) and inflammation with hepatocyte injury. Fibrosis may also occur in MASH and can lead to cirrhosis Cirrhosis Cirrhosis is a late stage of hepatic fibrosis that has resulted in widespread distortion of normal hepatic architecture. Cirrhosis is characterized by regenerative nodules surrounded by dense... read more . The pathogenesis of MASLD is not well understood but is clearly related to insulin resistance, leading to accumulation of triglycerides in the liver.

Individuals with type 2 diabetes can be screened for fibrosis by calculating the fibrosis 4 index for liver fibrosis (FIB-4 index) from age, aminotransferase levels, and platelet count. Further testing to look for fibrosis, with transient elastography or fibrosis blood markers can be performed if the FIB-4 score shows indeterminate or high risk of fibrosis.

The mainstays of treatment are diet, exercise, and weight loss. In patients with diabetes and evidence of MASH, use of pioglitazone or a GLP-1 receptor agonist such as liraglutide or semaglutide has been shown to slow progression of fibrosis (3 MASLD references In patients with diabetes mellitus, years of poorly controlled hyperglycemia lead to multiple, primarily vascular, complications that affect small vessels (microvascular), large vessels (macrovascular)... read more , 4 MASLD references In patients with diabetes mellitus, years of poorly controlled hyperglycemia lead to multiple, primarily vascular, complications that affect small vessels (microvascular), large vessels (macrovascular)... read more , 5 MASLD references In patients with diabetes mellitus, years of poorly controlled hyperglycemia lead to multiple, primarily vascular, complications that affect small vessels (microvascular), large vessels (macrovascular)... read more , 6 MASLD references In patients with diabetes mellitus, years of poorly controlled hyperglycemia lead to multiple, primarily vascular, complications that affect small vessels (microvascular), large vessels (macrovascular)... read more , 7 MASLD references In patients with diabetes mellitus, years of poorly controlled hyperglycemia lead to multiple, primarily vascular, complications that affect small vessels (microvascular), large vessels (macrovascular)... read more ). Other medications known to induce weight loss in diabetes (eg, the dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide [GIP] and GLP-1 inhibitor tirzepatide, SGLT-2 inhibitors) can be used.

Diabetic foot complications (skin changes, ulceration, infection, gangrene) are common and are attributable to vascular disease, neuropathy, and relative immunosuppression. These complications can lead to lower extremity amputations.

Certain musculoskeletal disorders are more common in patients with diabetes, including muscle infarction, carpal tunnel syndrome Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Carpal tunnel syndrome is compression of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. Symptoms include pain and paresthesias in the median nerve distribution. Diagnosis... read more , Dupuytren contracture Dupuytren Contracture Dupuytren contracture is progressive contracture of the palmar fascial bands, causing flexion deformities of the fingers. Treatment is with corticosteroid injection, surgery, or injections of... read more , adhesive capsulitis, and sclerodactyly Systemic Sclerosis Systemic sclerosis is a rare chronic disease of unknown cause characterized by diffuse fibrosis and vascular abnormalities in the skin, joints, and internal organs (especially the esophagus... read more .

Patients with diabetes may also develop

The following English-language resources may be useful. Please note that THE MANUAL is not responsible for the content of these resources.