Cardiovascular
Diabetes comes in three different types---type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. All types can affect major organs, including those in the cardiovascular system. This includes the heart and its surrounding blood vessels. According to the CDC, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among diabetics. The reason for this is that many people with diabetes also have high cholesterol, hypertension and high or fluctuating blood glucose levels---these are all contributing factors that can lead to heart disease. Being overweight and diabetic can also put a strain on your heart. When someone has all of these factors at the same time, he is at high risk for a heart attack or even a stroke.
Kidneys
In any type of diabetes, the kidneys can be severely affected. If the kidneys begin to disease as a result of diabetes, it is often referred to as diabetic nephropathy. This condition affects the blood vessels and cells in the kidneys so that they no longer function properly. The waste that they usually excrete begins to back up into the blood stream---this leads to kidney failure. In cases of severe kidney failure, a diabetic will have to receive dialysis frequently in order to survive. She may also need a kidney transplant but may not meet the criteria because of her diabetes. Keeping blood glucose levels down and blood pressure under control will help keep kidney disease at bay for diabetics.
Eyes
Oftentimes the nerve endings in the eyes are affected or damaged due to the diabetes and uncontrolled blood glucose levels. This can directly affect someone's eyesight. According to the CDC, when diabetes affects the eyes, this is commonly referred to as diabetic eye disease. The reason this happens is that over time high blood pressure combined with high sugar levels in the blood can cause small blood vessels in and around the eye to expand, burst and leak into the retina. This alone can lead to permanent blindness. Cataracts, when the eyes lens develops a cloudy film, is another common eye condition for diabetics. Glaucoma, which causes blindness, originates from severe optic nerve damage. Having regular checkups and staying healthy can help prevent diabetic eye disease.
