Can diabetes complications be prevented?

Largely, yes. Keeping blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol well controlled, not smoking, staying active and attending regular screening dramatically lowers your risk of eye, kidney, nerve, foot, heart and stroke complications. Many complications develop silently, so screening catches them early when treatment is most effective.

How often should I get my eyes, feet and kidneys checked?

In Singapore, people with diabetes in polyclinics are generally offered annual diabetic retinal photography for the eyes, annual foot screening, and regular (usually yearly) urine and blood tests for the kidneys. Your doctor may screen more often if you already have early complications or other risk factors.

Why is a diabetic foot ulcer so serious?

Nerve damage can mean you do not feel an injury, and poor circulation slows healing, so a small wound can become an infected ulcer and, if neglected, lead to amputation. A new or worsening ulcer, an infected wound, or a hot, swollen or discoloured foot is a medical emergency, seek care the same day.

I feel fine, do I still need screening?

Yes. Early diabetic eye, kidney and nerve damage usually causes no symptoms, so you can feel completely well while problems are developing. Screening is the only way to detect these changes early, when treatment can prevent or slow serious complications like blindness or kidney failure.

Does good blood sugar control really reduce complications?

Yes. Consistently good control of blood glucose, along with blood pressure and cholesterol, is the most powerful way to reduce the risk of eye, kidney, nerve and cardiovascular complications. Combined with not smoking and regular screening, it gives the best chance of avoiding long-term damage.

Diabetes Complications in Singapore: Eyes, Kidneys, Nerves, Fe

Written & reviewed by the BestDoctors.sg editorial team · Last updated 3 Sep 2026 · General information, not medical advice

Quick answer. Long-term high blood glucose damages small and large blood vessels, causing complications in the eyes (retinopathy, a leading cause of blindness), kidneys (nephropathy; diabetes causes about 2 in 3 kidney failure cases in Singapore), nerves (neuropathy), feet (ulcers and, if neglected, amputation), and the heart and brain (heart attack, stroke). The good news: these are largely preventable. Controlling blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol, not smoking, and attending Singapore’s annual screening greatly lowers your risk. In polyclinics, people with diabetes are offered yearly diabetic retinal photography, foot screening and kidney (urine and blood) tests. A new or worsening foot ulcer is a medical emergency, seek care the same day.

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In a medical emergency, or for severe or sudden symptoms such as breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting or stroke signs, call 995 immediately.

Diabetes can affect far more than blood sugar. Over years, persistently high glucose damages both small blood vessels (causing eye, kidney and nerve problems) and large blood vessels (raising the risk of heart attack and stroke). In Singapore, where diabetes is common, these complications are an important cause of blindness, kidney failure and lower-limb amputation.

The most important message is that these complications are largely preventable. Good control of blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol, together with not smoking and attending regular screening, dramatically reduces the risk, and screening catches problems early when they are most treatable. This guide gives an overview of each major complication, the warning signs to act on, and the screening programmes available in Singapore. It complements our guide on managing type 2 diabetes.

At a glance

Major diabetes complications and screening in Singapore
Complication	What it affects	Screening / what helps
Retinopathy	Eyes (a leading cause of blindness)	Annual diabetic retinal photography (DRP)
Nephropathy	Kidneys (about 2 in 3 kidney failure cases)	Yearly urine (protein) and blood (kidney function) tests
Neuropathy	Nerves (numbness, tingling, pain)	Foot/sensation checks; good glucose control
Foot problems	Feet (ulcers, infection, amputation)	Annual foot screening; daily self-checks
Heart & stroke	Heart and brain (large vessels)	Blood pressure, cholesterol, not smoking
Underlying driver	All of the above	Good glucose, BP and lipid control

How diabetes causes complications

Persistently high blood glucose damages blood vessels over time. This is grouped into:

Microvascular (small vessel) damage, affecting the eyes (retinopathy), kidneys (nephropathy) and nerves (neuropathy)
Macrovascular (large vessel) damage, raising the risk of heart attack, stroke and poor circulation to the legs and feet

These complications often build up silently over years, frequently before you feel anything. That is why screening and good control matter so much: damage can be slowed or prevented before it causes symptoms. In Singapore, rates of microvascular complications have been rising with the growing diabetes burden, making prevention a national priority.

Eyes: diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy damages the small blood vessels at the back of the eye and is a leading cause of blindness in Singapore. It usually causes no symptoms in the early stages, so it can only be detected by examining the retina.

People with diabetes in polyclinics are offered annual diabetic retinal photography (DRP), carried out by trained nurses, available across SingHealth Polyclinics, National Healthcare Group Polyclinics and National University Polyclinics
Early detection allows timely treatment (such as laser or injections) to protect vision
Report any sudden change in vision, new floaters or blurring promptly, do not wait for your next screening

Good blood glucose and blood pressure control significantly slows retinopathy.

Kidneys and nerves: nephropathy and neuropathy

Diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease) is a major problem in Singapore, where about 2 in 3 cases of kidney failure are due to diabetes. It is silent in early stages, so screening with a urine test for protein and a blood test for kidney function is done regularly (usually yearly). Detecting it early allows treatment, including blood pressure control and specific medications, to slow or prevent progression to dialysis.

Diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage) commonly affects the feet, causing numbness, tingling, burning or pain. Reduced sensation is dangerous because injuries can go unnoticed and develop into ulcers. Good glucose control is the cornerstone of prevention, and your feet should be checked regularly.

Feet: why foot care is urgent

Foot complications arise from a combination of nerve damage (loss of sensation) and poor circulation. A small injury, blister or crack can progress to a foot ulcer, and if infected and neglected, can lead to amputation.

People with diabetes in polyclinics are offered annual foot screening to assess sensation and circulation and identify high-risk feet
Check your feet daily for cuts, blisters, redness, swelling or colour changes; use a mirror or ask for help to see the soles
Wear well-fitting shoes, never walk barefoot, and keep skin moisturised but dry between the toes

Red flag: a new or worsening foot ulcer, an infected wound, a hot, swollen or discoloured foot, or a wound that will not heal is a medical emergency. Seek care the same day, do not wait.

Heart and stroke, and how screening prevents complications

Diabetes substantially increases the risk of heart attack and stroke by accelerating furring of the large arteries. Projections suggest cases of heart attack, stroke and kidney failure among people with diabetes in Singapore will rise in coming decades, underlining the importance of prevention now.

The encouraging reality is that complications are largely preventable through:

Good control of blood glucose (HbA1c), blood pressure and cholesterol
Not smoking, regular activity and a healthy diet
Attending all screening: annual eye photography, foot screening and kidney tests

In Singapore, chronic disease management is supported through programmes such as the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP), which allows MediSave use for outpatient diabetes care, and Healthier SG, which encourages regular follow-up with a regular family doctor. For day-to-day management, see our guide on type 2 diabetes.

Related guides

Sources

Last updated 22 June 2026. Prices are typical market ranges gathered from the cited sources and vary by clinic, doctor and individual case — they are not quotes. This guide is general information, not medical advice; always consult a qualified, MOH-accredited doctor before any treatment.

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