Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at age 45, everything seemed fine until the age of 50. Then, various complications began to surface. The patient sought medical attention due to numbness in both legs and was diagnosed not only with diabetic peripheral neuropathy but also with diabetic vascular disease.

Why do so many complications tend to appear after the age of 50?

The main reason is aging. As the body ages, all organs become more vulnerable to disease. For individuals already living with diabetes, poor blood sugar control significantly increases the risk of complications after 50.

As doctors, we must remind diabetic patients that having diabetes does not mean a shortened lifespan. In fact, as long as blood sugar is well-controlled and patients successfully navigate three key stages, living a long life is absolutely possible. But do you know what these “three critical stages” are?

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1. The First Three Years After Diagnosis Are Crucial

The first three years after being diagnosed with diabetes are especially important. This is the most challenging period for treatment. The reason is simple: after diagnosis, sudden changes in medication routines and lifestyle adjustments can be hard to adapt to.

If good habits are not formed during these first three years, blood sugar levels can fluctuate wildly, laying the groundwork for future complications.

Therefore, newly diagnosed patients must take the first three years seriously—focusing on scientific treatment and developing healthy lifestyle habits to keep blood sugar under control. Once these habits are established, it becomes much easier to maintain them over the long run.

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2. Age 50 — The Second Critical Stage

Nowadays, more young people are being diagnosed with diabetes. Diabetes is categorized as either type 1 or type 2. Most patients have type 2 diabetes, which is typically caused by unhealthy lifestyle habits, unlike type 1, which is more related to genetics.

Many young people suffer from obesity due to poor habits, which in turn leads to diabetes.

Doctors want to emphasize that age 50 is the second major hurdle for diabetics. With age, the body’s blood vessels, nerves, and vision begin to decline. If blood sugar is poorly managed, complications involving the eyes, nerves, and cardiovascular system often emerge after 50.

And once diabetic complications occur, they are usually irreversible—seriously affecting the patient’s quality of life.

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3. Age 70 — The Third Critical Stage

The age of 70 marks the third critical stage for people with diabetes. At this age, poor blood sugar control can easily lead to diabetic nephropathy. Even worse, many develop uremia and must rely on long-term dialysis.

For diabetic patients in their 70s, high blood sugar further damages blood vessels, increasing the risk of severe vascular complications. Vital organs such as the brain and heart are especially vulnerable, with an elevated risk of heart attacks and strokes.

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For diabetic patients, as long as they can successfully pass these three stages, living into their 80s or 90s is absolutely achievable. We shouldn’t oversimplify diabetes—but we also shouldn’t make it out to be overly complicated. Everyone knows that diabetes can be managed through medication and a healthy lifestyle.

The real challenge lies in maintaining those good habits consistently, day in and day out, for years. Can you do it?