There are many complications of the various
forms of diabetes. We now have the benefit of several large research
studies that have focused on the complications of diabetes for both Juvenile
Onset (Type I) and Adult Onset (Type II) Diabetes Mellitus. The Diabetes
Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) is the classic study for Type I
diabetes. The United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Studies (UKPDS) are
the classic studies for Type II diabetes. These studies have compared the
effects of "tight control" of blood sugars on the development of
complications of diabetes.
To make a long story short, the better you
control your blood sugars, the less chance you will have of getting
complications from diabetes. Start as early as possible to keep your
blood sugar in excellent control and you will likely have a long productive
life. However, if you ignore your sugar control, you will likely develop
complications that will shorten your life, and make what life you have most
unpleasant.
If diabetes does one thing, it is to cause
your blood vessels to age more rapidly. When you think about
complications of diabetes think about how blood vessels are effected. If
you also add to this the effects on nerves, then you have a potent set of
problems. If you are smoking, you will make these problems worse.
You should consider how best to stop smoking. Let's investigate further.