text: my son doesn't take his diabetes seriously, what are long term effects of high blood sugar?   patients with diabetes have higher mortality rates than nondiabetics regardless of sex, age, or affluence. heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death in these patients. all life-style and medical efforts should be made to reduce the risk for these conditions.   people with type 2 diabetes are also subject to nerve damage (neuropathy) and abnormalities in both small and large blood vessels (vascular injuries) that occur as part of the diabetic disease process. such abnormalities produce complications over time in many organs and structures in the body. although these complications tend to be more serious in type 1 diabetes, they still are of concern in type 2 diabetes. people with diabetes should aim for fast blood glucose levels of less than 110 mg/dl and hemoglobin a1c or less than 7%.   the impact of these multiple health problems are of great concern, particularly with the dramatic increase in diabetes. experts now estimate that over a third of people born in 2002 will eventually develop diabetes.   there are two important approaches to preventing complications from diabetes:   intensive control of blood glucose and keeping glycosylated hemoglobin (hba1c) levels below 7.0. this is proving to prevent complication due to vascular (blood vessel) abnormalities and nerve damage (neuropathy) that can cause major damage to organs, including the eyes, kidneys, and heart.  managing risk factors for heart disease. evidence is increasing that control of blood glucose also helps the heart, but its benefits most likely occur over time. it is very important that people with diabetes control blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and other factors associated with heart disease.