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Diabetes Type 2 Diabetes

Complications of Type 2 Diabetes

Summary & Participants

The complications of type 2 diabetes can be devastating. Early intervention is your best defense.

Medically Reviewed On: August 12, 2008

Webcast Transcript

ASTRID ALMODOVAR, FAMILY PHYSICIAN: I believe that we are right at the verge of losing the battle unless we start identifying these people aggressively and treating them.

ANNOUNCER: Dr. Astrid Almodovar is fighting a war against type two diabetes.

ASTRID ALMODOVAR, FAMILY PHYSICIAN: I would say about thirty percent of my patients come out with diabetes, one way or the other. I'm also very aggressive. So I know where it is and I know where to look for it and I am aggressive in looking for it because I would like to do an earlier intervention.

ANNOUNCER: Early intervention can prevent devastating complications.

ASTRID ALMODOVAR, FAMILY PHYSICIAN: The most common complications of diabetes are, of course, affecting their circulatory system. In the eyes, it can cause blindness. It could cause renal damage, end stage renal disease. Actually diabetes is the number one cause of dialysis treatments in the U.S. It could cause circulatory problems to the extremities therefore it could cause amputations.

ANNOUNCER: Heart disease is one of the most serious complications of diabetes.

ASTRID ALMODOVAR, FAMILY PHYSICIAN: Diabetes causes cardiovascular disease and actually is probably contributing to more than half of cardiovascular deaths in the U.S.

ANNOUNCER: Susan is managing her diabetes. A big part of that is making sure she doesn’t develop long-term complications.

SUSAN, HAS TYPE 2 DIABETES: I have a team. I have a cardiologist, I have a podiatrist, I have an endocrinologist, I have a nutritionist, I have a physiologist and a psychiatrist and they all work together and they all talk.

ASTRID ALMODOVAR, FAMILY PHYSICIAN: Diabetes is a very, very treatable and it's very rewarding for both the patient and the physician to manage diabetes aggressively because the patient feels much better and once again we can change the course. You don't have to die from diabetes.

ANNOUNCER: Thanks for joining us on today’s Once Daily.