Untreateddiabetescan lead to long-term complications or even death. In people with type 2 diabetes, these complications can include heart disease, kidney damage, peripheral neuropathy (nerve pain), or vision loss.
The situation is more urgent for people with type 1 diabetes. Without insulin, they can develop a potentially fatal condition calleddiabetic ketoacidosisin as little as a few hours.
Sometimes, diabetes goes untreated because it hasn’t been diagnosed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 7.2 million Americans have undiagnosed diabetes.Other times, someone with diabetes doesn’t take the necessary steps to manage the condition.
This article discusses the signs of untreated diabetes, the effects on the body that lead to long-term complications, and whether those complications can be reversed.
Untreated Diabetes Symptoms
The symptoms for Type 1 diabetes can develop within just a few weeks or months, while the symptoms for Type 2 diabetes may take several years to appear. And some people don’t notice any symptoms at all.
High Blood Sugar Level
One of the signs of untreated diabetes is high blood sugar. When you visit your healthcare provider, they will do a blood test to measure your blood sugar and tell you what range your blood glucose should fall in. Healthy blood sugar levels are usually between 70 and 130 mg/dL before meals and below 180 mg/dl two hours after meals.
High blood sugar is also associated with many symptoms. If you notice any of the following symptoms, contact your healthcare provider right away about getting your blood glucose checked:
If your healthcare provider suspects you have diabetes orprediabetes(a precursor oftype 2 diabetes), they will order other tests to confirm the diagnosis.
How Hyperglycemia Is Diagnosed
Frequent Urination
Another common symptom of untreated diabetes is increased urination (polyuria). A person is diagnosed withpolyuriawhen they make a minimum of 3 liters of urine per day. It is different from urinary frequency, which is the number of times someone pees in a day. In people with diabetes, polyuria is often associated with excessive thirst.
Frequent urination usually happens when your body is trying to clear your blood of excess sugar. Normally, when your kidneys create urine, they reabsorb all of the sugar and direct it back to the bloodstream. With diabetes, excess glucose ends up in the urine, pulling more water and resulting in more urine.
Urinary Problems and Type 2 Diabetes
Excessive Thirst
Polydipsia, an excessive form of thirst, is commonly found in people with diabetes. When you have diabetes, your kidneys have to work harder to filter and absorb the excess glucose in your blood. When your kidneys can’t keep up, the excess glucose is excreted into your urine, pulling along fluids from your tissues, which makes you dehydrated. This will usually leave you feeling thirsty.
Blurred Vision
High blood sugar levels in uncontrolled diabetes can damage small blood vessels, including those in your eyes. This can affect the blood vessels connected to theretina, a layer of tissue at the back of your eyeball that is responsible for eyesight, resulting inblurred vision.
Also, fluid can move in and out of the eye as a result of excessive blood glucose, causing swelling of thelens, a part of your eye that bends light and focuses it onto the retina to help you see clearly. As the shape of the lens changes, it distorts the way light is focused onto the retina, and blurriness occurs.
Fatigue
Fatigueis a common symptom among people with diabetes. Changes in blood sugar levels or consistently high blood sugar levels can result in fatigue and weakness. Diabetes complications, such as heart disease,neuropathy, andretinopathycan also cause increased fatigue.
Poor Wound Healing
High blood sugar affects the functioning ofwhite blood cells, which are cells in the immune system that fight bacteria and viruses. When white blood cells can’t function properly, the body isn’t able to ward off these foreign threats or heal wounds properly.
People with untreated diabetes may also have poor blood circulation, which can prevent the body from supplying nutrients to wounds to help them heal.
Untreated Diabetes Complications
Untreated diabetes will eventually lead to serious complications. The complications often share the same risk factors, and one complication can make other complications worse.This makes it even more critical to address diabetes as soon as possible.
A Word From VerywellUnmanaged diabetes can result in various medical complications with differing levels of severity. Detecting and treating diabetes early can significantly reduce the likelihood of developing life-changing medical conditions in the future.—KARINA TOLENTINO, RD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Unmanaged diabetes can result in various medical complications with differing levels of severity. Detecting and treating diabetes early can significantly reduce the likelihood of developing life-changing medical conditions in the future.—KARINA TOLENTINO, RD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Unmanaged diabetes can result in various medical complications with differing levels of severity. Detecting and treating diabetes early can significantly reduce the likelihood of developing life-changing medical conditions in the future.
—KARINA TOLENTINO, RD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Heart Disease
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S. People who have diabetes are twice as likely to have heart problems or a stroke—and at a younger age—compared to people without diabetes.
Heart disease develops when there is a buildup of plaque (cholesteroldeposits) in the blood vessels that supply oxygen and blood to the heart. Plaque build-up makes the inside of blood vessels narrow and decreases blood flow to the heart or brain, which can lead to aheart attackor astroke. Most people don’t have heart disease symptoms until they experience a heart attack or stroke.
Both a heart attack and stroke cause damage to the organ, so the effects are not reversible and daily functioning may be affected.
Kidney Disease
The kidneys contain large clusters of tiny blood vessels called the glomeruli, which propel the kidneys’ filtering function. High blood sugar levels can damage this filtering system and causechronic kidney disease (CKD), which may eventually lead to kidney failure.
People with CKD may not notice any symptoms in the early stages of the condition. When it is more advanced, symptoms may include:
Chronic kidney disease is not reversible, but treatment can help slow the progression and reduce the risk of complications.
Vision Loss
Eye diseases can affect people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and can lead to vision loss. Eye diseases include diabetic retinopathy, macular edema (which usually develops along with diabetic retinopathy),cataracts, andglaucoma.
Symptoms will vary depending on the eye condition but involve changes in vision, such as blurriness, cloudiness, tunnel vision, blind spots, poor night vision, or excessive brightness.
The changes that occur with these eye conditions are not reversible, but early diagnosis and treatment can help protect vision.
Nerve Damage
Almost half of the people with diabetes experience nerve damage, also calledneuropathy.Large blood sugar deposits damage capillary walls that nurture your nerves, especially in your legs.
The common symptoms include numbness and pain that can start in your toes and travel up through the feet and legs. You may lose your sense of feeling in the affected area. Nerve damage can also affect your digestion, blood vessels, and heart.
Neuropathy is not reversible, and treatment includes managing blood sugar levels with diet, exercise, and medications that help control blood sugar and/or reduce pain.
Infections
People with untreated diabetes are more likely to get infections because high blood sugar levels can weaken the immune system making it harder to fight off bacterial and fungal infections. Peripheral nerve damage and reduced blood flow to the extremities also increase the risk of infections.
Depending on the location of the infection, it may be reversible, but if there’s tissue damage it is not reversible.
For skin infections in particular, avoid scratching your skin, especially your legs, and apply moisturizers to help avoid creating sores that can lead to skin infections.
Foot Problems
Over time, high blood sugar levels can cause nerve damage to the feet, change the shape of your feet, or cause poor blood flow to the feet. Symptoms may include numbness, tingling, pain, or a loss of feeling in your feet.
When you have numbness or no feeling in your feet, you may not know when you have a cut, blister, or ulcer (open sore) on your foot. The wound can get infected and if it doesn’t heal well because of poor blood flow to the feet, it can lead togangrene(the muscle, skin, and tissues start to die).
If the area with gangrene doesn’t get better with treatment, you may need anamputationof the damaged toe, foot, or part of the leg to prevent a bad infection from spreading to other parts of the body.
Cognitive Problems
People who have diabetes, compared with people without diabetes, are more likely to develop cognitive problems and changes in the brain, including dementia,Alzheimer’s disease, and vascular dementia.
Symptoms may include mild cognitive impairment—such as being forgetful, losing your train of thought, or having difficulty following a conversation—or more advanced symptoms of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Cognitive changes are not reversible and currently, there are no effective long-term treatments.
7 Ways to Use Technology for Diabetes Management
When to See A Healthcare Provider
If you are experiencing any symptoms related to high blood sugar or diabetes complications, talk with your healthcare provider right away. Not everyone experiences symptoms, but you may be more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if you:
For people not experiencing symptoms of diabetes, scheduling a regular physical exam with a healthcare provider may be a helpful preventative approach.
Preventing Diabetes Complications
Research shows that a healthy lifestyle can help you manage your diabetes and prevent complications.This includes followinghealthy eating plan, beingphysically active, managing weight, andlosing weightwhen needed. If you’re unsure whatlifestyle changesare best for you, talk with a healthcare provider or registered dietitian for helpful strategies.
A Word From VerywellIt’s crucial to recognize the symptoms of untreated diabetes, particularly if you have a family history or other predisposing factors. If diagnosed with diabetes, remember that consistent management can help prevent the progression of complications. Discuss your blood sugar management goals with your healthcare provider for customized guidance and support.—KARINA TOLENTINO, RD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
It’s crucial to recognize the symptoms of untreated diabetes, particularly if you have a family history or other predisposing factors. If diagnosed with diabetes, remember that consistent management can help prevent the progression of complications. Discuss your blood sugar management goals with your healthcare provider for customized guidance and support.—KARINA TOLENTINO, RD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
It’s crucial to recognize the symptoms of untreated diabetes, particularly if you have a family history or other predisposing factors. If diagnosed with diabetes, remember that consistent management can help prevent the progression of complications. Discuss your blood sugar management goals with your healthcare provider for customized guidance and support.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s hard to say how many people with diabetes are untreated. According to the CDC, more than 100 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes. It also estimates one in four people who have diabetes are not diagnosed.
It depends. With type 1 diabetes, potentially fatal develop diabetic ketoacidosis can develop rapidly. Before 1922, when insulin became available as a treatment, people with type 1 diabetes had less than a three-year life expectancy.People with type 2 diabetes can remain untreated for much longer. Still, it can eventually lead to heart problems, kidney disease, severe nerve pain (neuropathy), and blindness.
It depends. With type 1 diabetes, potentially fatal develop diabetic ketoacidosis can develop rapidly. Before 1922, when insulin became available as a treatment, people with type 1 diabetes had less than a three-year life expectancy.
People with type 2 diabetes can remain untreated for much longer. Still, it can eventually lead to heart problems, kidney disease, severe nerve pain (neuropathy), and blindness.
19 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Diabetes Association.Diabetes & DKA (ketoacidosis).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.New CDC report: more than 100 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes.Deshpande AD, Harris-Hayes M, Schootman M.Epidemiology of diabetes and diabetes-related complications.Phys Ther. 2008;88(11):1254-1264. doi:10.2522/ptj.20080020Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of diabetes.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.What is diabetes?Fritschi C, Quinn L.Fatigue in patients with diabetes: a review.J Psychosom Res. 2010;69(1):33-41. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2010.01.021Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Put the brakes on diabetes complications.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Your heart and diabetes.National Kidney Foundation.Chronic kidney disease (CKD).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing chronic kidney disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vision loss and diabetes.American Diabetes Association.Understanding neuropathy and your diabetes.Casqueiro J, Casqueiro J, Alves C.Infections in patients with diabetes mellitus: A review of pathogenesis.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2012;16 Suppl 1(Suppl1):S27-S36. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.94253National Library of Medicine.Bacterial infections in diabetes.Medline Plus.Diabetic foot.Rawlings AM, Sharrett AR, Schneider AL, et al.Diabetes in midlife and cognitive change over 20 years: a cohort study.Ann Intern Med. 2014;161(11):785-793. doi:10.7326/M14-0737Xu WL, von Strauss E, Qiu CX, Winblad B, Fratiglioni L.Uncontrolled diabetes increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease: a population-based cohort study.Diabetologia. 2009;52(6):1031-1039. doi:10.1007/s00125-009-1323-xCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes complications.Distiller LA.Why do some patients with type 1 diabetes live so long?World J Diabetes. 2014;5(3):282–7. doi:10.4239/wjd.v5.i3.282Additional ReadingAmerican Diabetes Association.Understanding type 1 diabetes.Campbell H.Costs and consequences of not treating diabetes.Ramachandran A.Know the signs and symptoms of diabetes.Indian J Med Res.2014;140(5):579-581.
19 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Diabetes Association.Diabetes & DKA (ketoacidosis).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.New CDC report: more than 100 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes.Deshpande AD, Harris-Hayes M, Schootman M.Epidemiology of diabetes and diabetes-related complications.Phys Ther. 2008;88(11):1254-1264. doi:10.2522/ptj.20080020Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of diabetes.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.What is diabetes?Fritschi C, Quinn L.Fatigue in patients with diabetes: a review.J Psychosom Res. 2010;69(1):33-41. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2010.01.021Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Put the brakes on diabetes complications.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Your heart and diabetes.National Kidney Foundation.Chronic kidney disease (CKD).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing chronic kidney disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vision loss and diabetes.American Diabetes Association.Understanding neuropathy and your diabetes.Casqueiro J, Casqueiro J, Alves C.Infections in patients with diabetes mellitus: A review of pathogenesis.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2012;16 Suppl 1(Suppl1):S27-S36. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.94253National Library of Medicine.Bacterial infections in diabetes.Medline Plus.Diabetic foot.Rawlings AM, Sharrett AR, Schneider AL, et al.Diabetes in midlife and cognitive change over 20 years: a cohort study.Ann Intern Med. 2014;161(11):785-793. doi:10.7326/M14-0737Xu WL, von Strauss E, Qiu CX, Winblad B, Fratiglioni L.Uncontrolled diabetes increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease: a population-based cohort study.Diabetologia. 2009;52(6):1031-1039. doi:10.1007/s00125-009-1323-xCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes complications.Distiller LA.Why do some patients with type 1 diabetes live so long?World J Diabetes. 2014;5(3):282–7. doi:10.4239/wjd.v5.i3.282Additional ReadingAmerican Diabetes Association.Understanding type 1 diabetes.Campbell H.Costs and consequences of not treating diabetes.Ramachandran A.Know the signs and symptoms of diabetes.Indian J Med Res.2014;140(5):579-581.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Diabetes Association.Diabetes & DKA (ketoacidosis).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.New CDC report: more than 100 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes.Deshpande AD, Harris-Hayes M, Schootman M.Epidemiology of diabetes and diabetes-related complications.Phys Ther. 2008;88(11):1254-1264. doi:10.2522/ptj.20080020Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of diabetes.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.What is diabetes?Fritschi C, Quinn L.Fatigue in patients with diabetes: a review.J Psychosom Res. 2010;69(1):33-41. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2010.01.021Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Put the brakes on diabetes complications.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Your heart and diabetes.National Kidney Foundation.Chronic kidney disease (CKD).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing chronic kidney disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vision loss and diabetes.American Diabetes Association.Understanding neuropathy and your diabetes.Casqueiro J, Casqueiro J, Alves C.Infections in patients with diabetes mellitus: A review of pathogenesis.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2012;16 Suppl 1(Suppl1):S27-S36. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.94253National Library of Medicine.Bacterial infections in diabetes.Medline Plus.Diabetic foot.Rawlings AM, Sharrett AR, Schneider AL, et al.Diabetes in midlife and cognitive change over 20 years: a cohort study.Ann Intern Med. 2014;161(11):785-793. doi:10.7326/M14-0737Xu WL, von Strauss E, Qiu CX, Winblad B, Fratiglioni L.Uncontrolled diabetes increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease: a population-based cohort study.Diabetologia. 2009;52(6):1031-1039. doi:10.1007/s00125-009-1323-xCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes complications.Distiller LA.Why do some patients with type 1 diabetes live so long?World J Diabetes. 2014;5(3):282–7. doi:10.4239/wjd.v5.i3.282
American Diabetes Association.Diabetes & DKA (ketoacidosis).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.New CDC report: more than 100 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes.
Deshpande AD, Harris-Hayes M, Schootman M.Epidemiology of diabetes and diabetes-related complications.Phys Ther. 2008;88(11):1254-1264. doi:10.2522/ptj.20080020
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of diabetes.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.What is diabetes?
Fritschi C, Quinn L.Fatigue in patients with diabetes: a review.J Psychosom Res. 2010;69(1):33-41. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2010.01.021
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Put the brakes on diabetes complications.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Your heart and diabetes.
National Kidney Foundation.Chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing chronic kidney disease.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vision loss and diabetes.
American Diabetes Association.Understanding neuropathy and your diabetes.
Casqueiro J, Casqueiro J, Alves C.Infections in patients with diabetes mellitus: A review of pathogenesis.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2012;16 Suppl 1(Suppl1):S27-S36. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.94253
National Library of Medicine.Bacterial infections in diabetes.
Medline Plus.Diabetic foot.
Rawlings AM, Sharrett AR, Schneider AL, et al.Diabetes in midlife and cognitive change over 20 years: a cohort study.Ann Intern Med. 2014;161(11):785-793. doi:10.7326/M14-0737
Xu WL, von Strauss E, Qiu CX, Winblad B, Fratiglioni L.Uncontrolled diabetes increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease: a population-based cohort study.Diabetologia. 2009;52(6):1031-1039. doi:10.1007/s00125-009-1323-x
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes complications.
Distiller LA.Why do some patients with type 1 diabetes live so long?World J Diabetes. 2014;5(3):282–7. doi:10.4239/wjd.v5.i3.282
American Diabetes Association.Understanding type 1 diabetes.Campbell H.Costs and consequences of not treating diabetes.Ramachandran A.Know the signs and symptoms of diabetes.Indian J Med Res.2014;140(5):579-581.
American Diabetes Association.Understanding type 1 diabetes.
Campbell H.Costs and consequences of not treating diabetes.
Ramachandran A.Know the signs and symptoms of diabetes.Indian J Med Res.2014;140(5):579-581.
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