What Increases Your Risk

Factors that increase your risk for complications from type 2 diabetes include:

• Having persistently high blood sugar over time. The higher your blood sugar and the longer it remains too high, the greater your risk of developing complications.
• Having the disease for a long time. The longer you have diabetes, the more likely you are to have complications, even if blood sugar levels are controlled.
  • Diabetic nephropathy develops in 20% to 30% of the people who have type 2 diabetes.²
  • Diabetic retinopathy develops in more than 60% of the people who have type 2 diabetes by 20 years after diagnosis.³
  • Most people with diabetes develop some diabetic neuropathy over the years. But only about half of those people have noticeable symptoms.⁴
• Having one complication. You are at a higher risk for having more complications from diabetes if you already have a complication. For example, your risk of having diabetic nephropathy is much higher if you already have diabetic retinopathy.
• Other risk factors. Smoking, psychiatric disorders (such as depression), high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or a family history of complications from diabetes may increase your risk for developing a complication. Not having health insurance coverage for supplies and other medical expenses related to diabetes care can contribute to poorer control of the disease and to the development of complications.