Diabetes-Related Microvascular Complications - A Practical Approach

Abstract

Diabetes-related microvascular complications include diabetic neuropathy (eg, diabetic symmetric polyneuropathy (DSPN), cardiac autonomic neuropathy, gastroparesis, enteropathy, erectile dysfunction, female sexual dysfunction, and hypoglycemia unawareness), diabetic kidney disease (DKD), and diabetes-related eye disease (eg, diabetic retinopathy (DR) and cataract). Both diabetes duration and degree of glycemic control strongly correlate with the development of microvascular complications. The development of diabetes-related microvascular complications interferes with the patient's quality of life and poses higher health system costs. This article will discuss a practical approach to effectively minimize/delay and manage the most common diabetes-related microvascular (DSPN, DKD, and DR).

Keywords: Diabetic kidney disease; Diabetic retinopathy; Diabetic symmetric polyneuropathy; Microvascular complications; Practical approach.