PATIENT EDUCATION
Diabetes Complications
Long-term diabetes can affect nerves, eyes, kidneys, feet, blood vessels and the heart. Good glucose control and regular screening can reduce risk, but new symptoms should still be assessed promptly.
Select a topic below to view more information.
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Numbness, Burning or Tingling in the Feet
What you'll notice or feel
- Pins-and-needles, burning or reduced sensation.
- Symptoms often begin in the toes and may be worse at night.
- Reduced awareness of heat, pressure or small injuries.
- Sometimes balance becomes less reliable.
Common causes
- Diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
- Vitamin deficiencies, thyroid disease or nerve compression can cause similar symptoms.
- Alcohol and some medicines may contribute.
What it could be
- Diabetes-related neuropathy after other causes are considered.
- A separate neurological or nutritional problem.
Initial self-care
- Inspect feet daily for blisters, cuts or pressure areas.
- Use well-fitting footwear.
- Avoid walking barefoot if sensation is reduced.
- Arrange a foot and neurological assessment.
When to see a doctor urgently
- A red, hot, swollen foot, especially with neuropathy.
- A deep or infected wound, blackened skin or spreading redness.
- Sudden new weakness or one-sided neurological symptoms.
When to see a doctor
- Numbness persists or progresses.
- Pain is disturbing sleep.
- You have not had a recent diabetes foot review.
Visual Changes
What you'll notice or feel
- Blurred or fluctuating vision.
- New floaters or dark spots.
- Difficulty reading or seeing clearly at night.
- Sometimes no symptoms despite early retinal disease.
Common causes
- Rapid glucose changes can temporarily blur vision.
- Diabetic retinopathy can damage retinal blood vessels.
- Cataract and glaucoma are also more common with diabetes.
- Other eye conditions may be unrelated to diabetes.
What it could be
- Diabetic retinopathy or macular disease.
- Temporary refractive change related to glucose.
- Another ophthalmic condition.
Initial self-care
- Keep scheduled retinal screening appointments.
- Do not rely on clear vision as proof that the retina is normal.
- Optimise glucose and blood pressure with your clinical team.
- Seek eye review for persistent changes.
When to see a doctor urgently
- Sudden loss of vision, a curtain-like shadow, severe eye pain or rapidly increasing floaters.
When to see a doctor
- Blurred vision persists.
- Retinal screening is overdue.
- You have been told retinopathy is progressing.
Kidney Changes or Protein in the Urine
What you'll notice or feel
- Protein or albumin detected on urine testing.
- Changes in kidney blood tests.
- Swelling of ankles may occur later.
- Early diabetic kidney disease usually causes no symptoms.
Common causes
- Long-term diabetes can damage the kidney filtering units.
- High blood pressure accelerates kidney damage.
- Other kidney diseases may coexist.
What it could be
- Diabetic kidney disease after appropriate evaluation.
- Another kidney disorder if the pattern is atypical.
Initial self-care
- Attend regular urine albumin and kidney-function screening.
- Control blood pressure and glucose.
- Avoid unnecessary over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicines if kidney function is impaired.
- Take kidney-protective medicines as prescribed.
When to see a doctor urgently
- Marked reduction in urine, severe breathlessness, confusion or rapidly increasing swelling.
When to see a doctor
- Urine albumin is repeatedly abnormal.
- Kidney function is declining.
- Blood pressure is difficult to control.
Foot Wounds or Slow Healing
What you'll notice or feel
- A blister, cut or ulcer that is not healing normally.
- Callus or pressure areas.
- Reduced pain despite a significant wound because of neuropathy.
- Redness, discharge or swelling around a wound.
Common causes
- Neuropathy reduces protective sensation.
- Poor circulation may impair healing.
- High glucose can increase infection risk.
- Foot deformity can create repeated pressure points.
What it could be
- Diabetic foot ulcer.
- Soft-tissue or bone infection.
- Charcot neuroarthropathy when the foot is hot, swollen and relatively painless.
Initial self-care
- Keep pressure off an open wound as much as possible until assessed.
- Do not cut callus or treat ulcers with corrosive home remedies.
- Keep the wound clean and covered.
- Seek early professional assessment.
When to see a doctor urgently
- Spreading infection, fever, blackened tissue or foul discharge.
- A red, hot, swollen foot with neuropathy.
- Rapidly worsening pain or systemic illness.
When to see a doctor
- Any diabetic foot ulcer should be assessed promptly.
- Recurrent callus or pressure areas need preventive foot care.
- Footwear is causing repeated injury.
Chest Pain, Breathlessness or Circulation Problems
What you'll notice or feel
- Chest pressure, breathlessness or reduced exercise tolerance.
- Calf pain when walking that settles with rest.
- Cold feet or slow-healing wounds.
- Sometimes heart disease occurs with atypical or minimal pain in diabetes.
Common causes
- Diabetes increases cardiovascular and peripheral arterial disease risk.
- High blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking and kidney disease further increase risk.
What it could be
- Coronary artery disease.
- Peripheral arterial disease.
- Another cardiac, lung or vascular cause.
Initial self-care
- Keep blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose treatment up to date.
- Do not ignore reduced exercise tolerance.
- Stop smoking if applicable and seek support.
- Attend cardiovascular risk reviews.
When to see a doctor urgently
- New chest pain, severe breathlessness, collapse or stroke-like symptoms require emergency care.
- A cold, pale or suddenly painful limb requires urgent vascular assessment.
When to see a doctor
- Walking distance is progressively reducing because of calf pain.
- There are recurrent foot wounds or weak pulses.
- Cardiovascular risk factors are not well controlled.
YOUR CONSULTATION
What to Expect at Your Visit
- Review of diabetes duration, glucose control, medicines and previous screening results.
- Foot examination including skin, pulses and protective sensation where appropriate.
- Blood pressure and cardiovascular risk review.
- Blood and urine tests may assess kidney function and urine albumin.
- Eye symptoms are referred for ophthalmic assessment; routine retinal screening remains important even without symptoms.
- Management focuses on both the specific complication and stronger prevention of further vascular, nerve, kidney or foot damage.
* IMPORTANT: A Note Before You Go
Many diabetes complications are silent in their early stages. Regular screening remains important even when you feel well.
This page provides general educational information and cannot replace an individual medical assessment. If symptoms are persistent, worsening or concerning, arrange appropriate medical review.
NEED AN ASSESSMENT?
Arrange an Endocrinology Consultation
For non-emergency assessment or follow-up, appointments are booked through the hospital’s central appointment desk on 0422 432 4433. For severe or rapidly worsening symptoms, seek urgent medical care rather than waiting for a routine appointment.