The Complications Playbook
Breaking Down the Complex
Take a Deep Breath
Diabetes complications can be scary to think about—and even scarier to talk about. They tend to come with shame and blame, but complications can happen to anyone, especially if you've been living with diabetes for a long time. The bottom line—shame has no place here. We're here to give you the information you need to get the help you deserve.
Talking About Complications
The idea of diabetes complications can be scary. But when we start talking about them, learning how to prevent them...
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Most people living with diabetes will remember conversations they’ve had with healthcare professionals about diabetes-related complications, and often, those memories...
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It’s hard to deny that one of the main reasons diabetes causes fear and denial is due to the possibility...
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We have been educated, maybe warned, or even “threatened” with diabetes complications since we’ve been diagnosed. Many of us have...
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The unfortunate truth: having diabetes can significantly increase your risk of developing other health conditions. While some potential diabetes complications...
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Almost 30 years ago research found that chronic hyperglycemia (high blood glucose), as well as the length of time a...
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Neuropathy + Nerve Health
When you live with any type of diabetes, complications can happen over time—even when blood glucose control is tight. This...
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Editor’s Note: This content was made possible with support from Nevro, an active partner of Beyond Type 1 at the...
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One of the major diabetes complications everyone hears about is neuropathy. When people think of neuropathy they think of losing...
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Living with diabetes isn’t easy, and the complications that can come with it can be overwhelming, scary and painful....
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Diabetes can put a person at risk for developing a wide range of conditions. Often this is due to a...
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Technology is changing how we treat diabetes complications, from AI-powered tools to neurostimulation devices. Here’s what’s making a difference.
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Retinopathy + Eye Health
Diabetic eye disease, also known as retinopathy, is one of the most well-known complications of diabetes. People with diabetes (PWD)...
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Taking good care of your eyes is especially important for people with type 1 diabetes. No matter what your blood...
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Your annual diabetes eye exam can take anywhere between one to two hours because there are actually four parts to...
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Retinopathy is one of the most common and most serious diabetes-related eye complications. It’s actually the leading cause of preventable...
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One of the most common yet rarely talked about eye conditions in people with diabetes is dry eye, it affects...
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While anyone can develop this eye condition, floaters are more common in people with diabetes who have developed diabetic retinopathy...
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Other Complications
The effects of hyperglycemia are widespread in the human body. It is not surprising that our musculoskeletal system can be...
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Gastroparesis, also known as delayed gastric emptying, is a type of autonomic neuropathy that affects the digestion of food. Gastroparesis...
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When thinking about diabetes we don’t often think of the health of our mouth, gums, and teeth known as our...
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Diabetes nephropathy, also known as diabetic kidney disease, affects 20-40 percent of people with diabetes. The leading cause of chronic...
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Having diabetes means that you are more likely to develop heart disease and have a greater chance of a heart...
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High blood glucose due to diabetes can cause damage to many parts of the body, including the heart. Chronically high...
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Diabetes care didn’t evolve by accident; Black innovators helped build it.
Who do you want to see in the next roundup?
"In 2018, I went to a panel on invisible illnesses and was surprised by how many people had questions about diabetes. Everyone knew the word, but no one really understood it. That’s when I realized social media could be a way to clear up misconceptions."
Shoutout to Kalex, who you probably know as @typewondiabetes, for opening up to us about how to advocate for yourself and your healthcare.
You may think it`s "just a joke" but it`s actually a life-threatening barrier to care and diagnosis. Diabetes stigma can make checking blood sugar or taking insulin feel like something to hide or even skip altogether. And it can stall research, delay diagnosis or contribute to misdiagnosis. Representation matters.
Seeing T1D representation on the slopes last weekend🎿
Results came back: I still have diabetes 🩻
(Check with your device company before any x-ray exposure)
"That’s what I want my legacy to be—not just the records or the shows or the championships—but being remembered as someone who used his platform to advocate, to push for progress and to help change the future of type 1 diabetes."
Thank you @romeomiller for opening up to us about fatherhood, T1D, and legacy.
Screaming this from the rooftops of Times Square #diabetesawareness
The kids are alright 🥹
The more we talk about chronic illness, the more we break down stigma and lift each other up. @thediabetesking
Did you catch this recent episode of #ThePitt bringing visibility to insulin rationing and the reality of diabetes without health insurance? If you or someone you know is struggling to afford insulin, there are resources to help: Getinsulin.org, patient assistance programs, insulin copay cards, and more.
Sources:
Fang, M., & Selvin, E. (2023). Cost-Related insulin rationing in US adults younger than 65 years with diabetes. JAMA, 329(19), 1700. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2023.5747
Casagrande, S. S., Park, J., Herman, W. H., & Bullard, K. M. (2023, December 20). Health insurance and diabetes. Diabetes in America - NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK597725/
Crawford, S. (2025, November 5). Insulin rationing persists despite policy changes, study shows. Yale School of Medicine. https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/insulin-rationing-persists-despite-policy-changes-study-shows/
#Type1Diabetes #DiabetesAwareness #InsulinAffordability
Raising T1D awareness one Nick Jonas fan at a time
As a quick reminder, type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune condition that makes the body unable to produce insulin, which is the hormone that regulates blood sugar 💛
We know you missed them, so we`re back with another Diabetes Icons! Who do you want to see in the next episode? 💛
Have you ever struggled with body image as it relates to your diabetes? Mackenzie, from Teen Mom & 16 and Pregnant, opens up about her experience in our latest episode of Community Table. Watch it now on our Youtube channel!
And if you or someone you know are struggling to afford your insulin, visit getinsulin.org to see what options are available.
Looks like we’ll be seeing two T1Ds on the field tomorrow 👀 Good luck, @loganbrown_50
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