ACP Diabetes Portal: Neurologic Complications - Complications of Diabetic Neuropathy

From the ACP Diabetes Care Guide
Persons with diabetes are at increased risk for macrovascular disease; microvascular disease, including retinopathy and nephropathy; peripheral and autonomic neuropathies; and lower extremity disease.
* Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of noncongenital blindness among adults.
* Diabetes is the most common cause of endstage kidney disease in the United States, especially among Native American, Hispanic, and African American persons. One quarter to one third of patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes develop some degree of nephropathy.
* Diabetes doubles the risk for cardiovascular disease in men and triples it in women (data from the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial [MRFIT]).
* Patients with diabetes are several-fold more likely to have peripheral arterial disease than patients without diabetes.
* Peripheral arterial disease and foot ulcers in patients with diabetes account for two thirds of all nontraumatic amputations performed in the United States.

Screening for and prevention of these complications are fundamental to the care of patients with diabetes and are important components of quality of care initiatives for diabetes.

NOTE: You may order free copies of the complete ACP Diabetes Care Guide (book and CD-ROM).

10.21.2008
ACP
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