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...
Read more
Most people living with diabetes will remember conversations they’ve had with healthcare professionals about diabetes-related complications, and often, those memories...
Read more
It’s hard to deny that one of the main reasons diabetes causes fear and denial is due to the possibility...
Read more
We have been educated, maybe warned, or even “threatened” with diabetes complications since we’ve been diagnosed. Many of us have...
Read more
The unfortunate truth: having diabetes can significantly increase your risk of developing other health conditions. While some potential diabetes complications...
Read more
Almost 30 years ago research found that chronic hyperglycemia (high blood glucose), as well as the length of time a...
Read more
Neuropathy + Nerve Health
When you live with any type of diabetes, complications can happen over time—even when blood glucose control is tight. This...
Read more
A common complication of diabetes, peripheral neuropathy affects approximately 30 percent of people with type 1 diabetes and 42 percent...
Read more
One of the major diabetes complications everyone hears about is neuropathy. When people think of neuropathy they think of losing...
Read more
Living with diabetes isn’t easy, and the complications that can come with it can be overwhelming, scary and painful....
Read more
Diabetes can put a person at risk for developing a wide range of conditions. Often this is due to a...
Read more
Technology is changing how we treat diabetes complications, from AI-powered tools to neurostimulation devices. Here’s what’s making a difference.
Read more
Retinopathy + Eye Health
Diabetic eye disease, also known as retinopathy, is one of the most well-known complications of diabetes. People with diabetes (PWD)...
Read more
Taking good care of your eyes is especially important for people with type 1 diabetes. No matter what your blood...
Read more
Your annual diabetes eye exam can take anywhere between one to two hours because there are actually four parts to...
Read more
Retinopathy is one of the most common and most serious diabetes-related eye complications. It’s actually the leading cause of preventable...
Read more
One of the most common yet rarely talked about eye conditions in people with diabetes is dry eye, it affects...
Read more
While anyone can develop eye conditions, floaters are more common in people with diabetes, especially those who have developed diabetic...
Read more
Other Complications
The effects of hyperglycemia are widespread in the human body. It is not surprising that our musculoskeletal system can be...
Read more
Gastroparesis, also known as delayed gastric emptying, is a type of autonomic neuropathy that affects the digestion of food. Gastroparesis...
Read more
When thinking about diabetes we don’t often think of the health of our mouth, gums, and teeth known as our...
Read more
Diabetes nephropathy, also known as diabetic kidney disease, affects 20-40 percent of people with diabetes. The leading cause of chronic...
Read more
Having diabetes means that you are more likely to develop heart disease and have a greater chance of a heart...
Read more
High blood glucose due to diabetes can cause damage to many parts of the body, including the heart. Chronically high...
Read more
Follow Us
Not everyone can say they had their best idea during a low blood sugar, but Arianna can! She turned a scary dorm room low into a life-saving app. Plus, she`s one of our Innovation Grantees!
Read more about her story and `Lowcate` on our website.
How do you celebrate your diaversary?
Celebrate my 20th diaversary with me 🎉💛 Living with T1D isn’t easy, but every year is proof of your strength and resilience. If you needed a sign to celebrate your own diaversary… this is it!
“Be transparent with the people around you about what you need, what you`re living with and even the signs and symptoms they should look out for so they can care for you. It`s ok to be cared for.”
Read the rest of Jackie Hill Perry’s story on our website!
Can someone pause the gossip until my candy kicks in?
diabetes: "every morning you wake up I`ll be there, every night at dinner I`ll be there, every birthday party I`ll be there."
Look at him now #t1dlookslikeme #diabetesawareness #padresbaseball @padres @officialmikeking
For it’s one, two, three stages of type 1 diabetes at the old ball game #diabetesawareness #t1dlookslikeme #sandiegopadres
San Diego got screened!🩸Over 800 people learning more about type 1 diabetes and 200+ screened.
Almost 90% of people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes have no family history of the disease. T1D can affect anyone at any age. A simple blood test can help identify risk before symptoms appear and reduce the chance of a dangerous diagnosis, plus open the door to therapies that could help delay the onset.
Huge thanks to @kingofthehillfoundation, @sdpadresfoundation and @padres!! And shout out to @dexcom for giving Stelos to the first 200 screened to help them understand their glucose 💛
And thank YOU for showing up for early detection!
Several photos by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images
#diabetesawarness #t1dlookslikeme #sandiegopadres
Find me and my diabuddies on the jumbotron #t1dlookslikeme #diabetesawareness #padresbaseball
T1D brides and grooms: tap in and tell us how your blood sugars survived your wedding day
moms with T1D, we see you 💛 Balancing your own health while caring for your kids is a lot to carry, and you’re doing it every day!
Inspired by one of the amazing T1D moms on our Beyond Type 1 team who’s living this reality every day!
T1D parents, what tips and tricks help you balance diabetes and parenting? 👇
Affordable insulin shouldn`t depend on your insurance, employer, or zip code.
Last week, the INSULIN Act cleared the HELP Committee and now heads to the Senate.
It`s not law yet—but it`s an important step forward. 💛
If you or someone you know needs help affording insulin, see cost-saving options at getinsulin.org
105 years after insulin was isolated, the Banting house is still standing strong 💛 Have you been to London, Ontario?
In my opinion, this is a national holiday 🥹💉
If you or someone you love is struggling to afford insulin, visit getinsulin.org
Insulin started as frozen ground pancreas? 105 years ago today, Banting and Best isolated insulin for the very first time.
If you or someone you know is struggling to afford insulin, find cost-saving options at getinsulin.org
Sources:
UMass Diabetes Center of Excellence. (n.d.). Frederick Banting and Charles Best Isolate Human Insulin. In University of Massachusetts Medical School. Retrieved July 23, 2026, from https://www.umassmed.edu/dcoe/diabetes-education/patient-resources/banting-and-best-discover-insulin/
Mazur, A. (2011). Why were “starvation diets” promoted for diabetes in the pre-insulin period? Nutrition Journal, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2891-10-23
de Groot, K. (2021). 100 years of insulin. In Penn Today. University of Pennsylvania. https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/100-years-insulin
(2023). In Nobelprize.org. https://educationalgames.nobelprize.org/educational/medicine/insulin/discovery-insulin.html
#insulin #diabetesawareness
Sponsor
Educational content is made possible with support from Lexicon. Beyond Type 1 maintains editorial control over its content.
