Diabetes: Long-Term Effects and Local Care in Grand Rapids, MI

Diabetes is a condition where there is too much glucose (sugar) in the blood. Over time, high blood glucose can damage many organs and systems in the body. Long-term effects include damage to both large (macrovascular) and small (microvascular) blood vessels, which can lead to:

  • Heart attack and stroke
  • Kidney disease
  • Eye disease and vision loss
  • Nerve damage
  • Foot problems and ulcers
  • Gum disease and dental problems

In Grand Rapids, where cold winters, slippery sidewalks, and less outdoor activity can affect your health, managing diabetes carefully is especially important to prevent these complications.

You can significantly lower your risk of long-term complications by:

  • Keeping blood pressure, blood glucose, and cholesterol in the recommended range
  • Maintaining a healthy weight
  • Eating a balanced, nutritious diet
  • Reducing alcohol intake
  • Not smoking

Local diabetes care is available through major Grand Rapids health systems, including Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health, as well as the Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health programs.

Regular Diabetes Check-Ups and Screening in Grand Rapids

Why regular screening matters

Regular check-ups help pick up problems early—often before you notice symptoms. In Grand Rapids, you can schedule routine diabetes visits with:

  • Your primary care provider or family doctor
  • Endocrinologists at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health
  • Diabetes education programs offered through local hospital systems

At each visit, your care team may check:

  • Blood pressure
  • Weight and waist measurement
  • Blood glucose logs (if you monitor at home)
  • HbA1c (every 3–6 months, or at least once a year)
  • Cholesterol and triglycerides (at least once a year)
  • Kidney function (blood and urine tests)
  • Foot health and nerve function
  • Oral health referrals and eye exam referrals

Healthy Eating for Diabetes in Grand Rapids

Building a diabetes-friendly eating plan

If you have diabetes, it’s important to eat a wide variety of nutritious foods and limit sugary snacks and drinks. Aim to:

  • Enjoy foods from all food groups
  • Choose foods high in fiber and low in saturated fat
  • Reduce salt (sodium) intake
  • Watch portion sizes

In Grand Rapids, you can work with a registered dietitian through:

  • Spectrum Health or Trinity Health nutrition services
  • Metro Health and Mercy Health outpatient clinics
  • Community programs supported by the Kent County Health Department

A dietitian can review your current eating habits and help you create a practical meal plan that fits local food options, your budget, and cultural preferences.

Limiting alcohol

If you drink alcohol:

  • Have no more than two standard drinks per day
  • Avoid alcohol if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding

Alcohol can affect blood glucose levels and weight. If you are overweight, even a small weight loss—especially around the abdomen—can help lower blood pressure, blood glucose, and cholesterol.

To get started with weight loss:

  • Set small, realistic short-term goals
  • Think about whether you are truly hungry before eating
  • Choose healthier options and smaller portions

A dietitian or diabetes educator in Grand Rapids can help you set a realistic plan and answer your food-related questions.

Physical Activity and Diabetes in West Michigan

How much activity do you need?

National guidelines recommend:

  • At least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity most days of the week
  • For weight loss, aim for at least 60 minutes a day, if possible

In Grand Rapids, options include:

  • Walking in local neighborhoods, Millennium Park, or Riverside Park
  • Using indoor tracks or gyms during the winter at YMCA locations or hospital-based fitness centers
  • Community recreation centers and mall walking when sidewalks are icy

If you cannot do activities like walking, swimming, or gym workouts, consider:

  • Water aerobics (many local pools offer warm-water classes)
  • Chair exercises
  • Light resistance training with bands or small weights

Always check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program, especially if you have other medical conditions. An exercise physiologist or physical therapist—available through local health systems—can design a safe plan that matches your abilities.

Smoking and Diabetes Complications

Smoking is the single greatest lifestyle risk factor for developing diabetes complications. It can undo many of the benefits of:

  • Weight loss
  • Healthy eating
  • Good blood glucose and blood pressure control

Smoking:

  • Increases heart rate and blood pressure
  • Narrows small blood vessels
  • Makes blood cells and vessel walls “sticky,” allowing fatty deposits to build up

This greatly increases the risk of:

  • Heart attack
  • Stroke
  • Peripheral artery disease

People with diabetes who smoke tend to have higher blood glucose levels and poorer diabetes control than non-smokers.

In Grand Rapids, help to quit smoking is available through:

  • Spectrum Health and Trinity Health smoking cessation programs
  • Metro Health and Mercy Health tobacco treatment services
  • Kent County Health Department quit programs
  • Michigan Tobacco Quitline (statewide)

Blood Pressure, Blood Glucose, and HbA1c Targets

Blood pressure

Have your blood pressure checked:

  • At every doctor visit, or
  • At least twice a year, more often if you have high blood pressure

Recommended target:

  • Under 130/80 mmHg for most people with diabetes (your doctor may set an individual target)

Blood pressure control is just as important as blood glucose control for reducing diabetes complications.

Blood glucose and HbA1c

Keeping your blood glucose in your target range helps reduce long-term risks. Your doctor or diabetes educator will give you specific targets.

Home blood glucose monitoring can show how:

  • Medications
  • Food
  • Exercise
  • Illness
  • Stress

affect your diabetes.

HbA1c reflects your average blood glucose over the past 2–3 months and is a key measure of your long-term risk.

  • Goal for most adults: HbA1c ≤ 7% (53 mmol/mol)
  • Some people (children, frail older adults, pregnant women) may have different targets

Test HbA1c:

  • At least once a year
  • Every 3–6 months if treatment is changing or control is not stable

Cholesterol, Triglycerides, and Heart Disease

People with diabetes have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, including:

  • Coronary artery disease
  • Heart attack
  • Stroke

This risk is higher if you also have:

  • High cholesterol
  • High blood pressure
  • A family history of heart disease
  • Smoking history
  • Inactivity

Have your cholesterol and triglycerides checked at least once a year.

Common causes of high cholesterol include:

  • Family history
  • Diet high in saturated fat

Foods high in saturated fat include:

  • Full-fat dairy products
  • Fatty cuts of meat
  • Pastries, biscuits, cakes
  • Foods made with coconut cream, coconut milk, or palm oil
  • Many fast foods and deep-fried takeout items

Your doctor may also recommend:

  • An electrocardiogram (ECG)
  • An exercise stress test

especially if you have symptoms or multiple risk factors.

Diabetes and Eye Health in Grand Rapids

Long-term high blood glucose can damage the small blood vessels in the retina (back of the eye), leading to several eye conditions:

Diabetic retinopathy

  • Damage to the tiny blood vessels in the retina
  • Often has no symptoms in early stages
  • Can eventually affect vision and cause vision loss

Regular eye exams are essential to detect retinopathy early.

Macular edema

  • Swelling in the macula (part of the retina that provides sharp central vision)
  • Caused by leaking retinal blood vessels
  • Can cause blurry or distorted vision

Cataracts

  • Clouding of the eye’s lens
  • Causes cloudy, distorted vision and increased sensitivity to glare
  • People with diabetes often develop cataracts at a younger age

Glaucoma

  • Increased pressure inside the eye can damage the optic nerve over time
  • More common in people with diabetes

Symptoms needing urgent attention

Seek immediate medical care if you notice:

  • Flashes of light
  • New floaters, “blots” or “dots”
  • A dark curtain or missing area in your vision

Eye exams in Grand Rapids

Everyone with diabetes should have:

  • A comprehensive eye exam by an optometrist or ophthalmologist at diagnosis, then
  • At least every two years (more often if retinopathy or other problems are found)

Children usually begin screening 5 years after diagnosis or at puberty.

In Grand Rapids, eye care is available through:

  • Hospital-based ophthalmology clinics (Spectrum Health, Trinity Health, Metro Health, Mercy Health)
  • Local optometry practices across Kent County

Always tell your eye care professional that you have diabetes.

Kidney Disease (Nephropathy) and Diabetes

Kidney disease from diabetes is caused by damage to the small blood vessels in the kidneys. It is often painless and does not cause symptoms until it is advanced, which makes screening very important.

Screening for kidney problems

At least once a year, your doctor should:

  • Check your urine for microalbumin (very small amounts of protein)
  • Check kidney function with a blood test, including estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)

If kidney damage is detected early, treatment can slow or prevent progression.

Medications called:

  • ACE inhibitors
  • Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs)

are often used to protect the kidneys and also help treat high blood pressure.

Nerve Damage (Neuropathy)

High blood glucose over time can damage nerves throughout the body. Neuropathy may affect:

  • Sensory nerves (feeling)
  • Motor nerves (movement)
  • Autonomic nerves (that control organs)

Commonly affected areas include:

  • Feet and legs
  • Hands and arms
  • Digestive system (stomach and intestines)
  • Bladder and sexual organs

Long-term use of metformin (over 3–5 years) can also contribute to vitamin B12 deficiency, which can cause similar nerve problems. Your doctor may test your B12 levels if needed.

Preventing or slowing nerve damage

  • Keep blood glucose within your target range
  • Limit alcohol to recommended levels
  • Do not smoke
  • Report any numbness, tingling, burning, pain, weakness, or changes in digestion or bladder function to your doctor

Foot Care for People with Diabetes in Grand Rapids

In diabetes, reduced blood flow and nerve damage in the feet can lead to:

  • Poor healing
  • Increased risk of infection
  • Loss of feeling (you may not notice injuries)
  • Foot deformities (such as clawed toes)
  • Ulcers and, in severe cases, risk of amputation

How to protect your feet

  • See a podiatrist at least once a year
    • In Grand Rapids, podiatry services are available through local hospital systems and private clinics
  • Have your feet checked for:
    • Blood supply
    • Nerve function
    • Structural changes
  • Check your feet every day (use a mirror or ask for help if needed)
    • Look for cuts, blisters, calluses, corns, redness, swelling, or signs of fungal infection (like tinea between the toes)
  • Treat problems early and seek professional care promptly
  • Use moisturizer (such as a non-perfumed cream) on dry, rough, or cracked skin on feet and heels
  • Wear comfortable, supportive shoes that fit well—avoid walking barefoot

Avoid placing your feet close to heaters or using very hot water, especially in Michigan winters, as reduced sensation may prevent you from feeling burns.

Skin Problems and Diabetes

High blood glucose over time can affect skin health. People with diabetes often have:

  • Very dry skin, especially on the feet
  • Increased risk of skin infections

Since the skin is a barrier against infection, keeping it healthy is important.

Reducing skin problems

  • Keep blood glucose and HbA1c within recommended ranges
  • Wear gloves when using household cleaners or solvents
  • Avoid very hot baths and showers, especially if you have neuropathy
  • Use non-scented soaps or soap alternatives
  • Apply non-perfumed cream or lotion after bathing
  • See your doctor if you notice rashes, cracks, sores, or persistent dryness

Oral Health and Diabetes

Poorly managed diabetes increases the risk of:

  • Tooth decay
  • Gum disease (gingivitis and periodontitis)

High blood glucose can damage small blood vessels that supply the teeth and gums. Gum infections can also make blood glucose harder to control and are linked to a higher risk of heart disease.

Protecting your teeth and gums

  • See your dentist every 6 months for a check-up and cleaning
  • Brush at least twice a day with a soft toothbrush
  • Floss once a day
  • If you wear dentures, clean both dentures and gums daily

Grand Rapids has many dental clinics, including community dental services and hospital-affiliated practices that are familiar with caring for people with diabetes.

Mental Health and Living with Diabetes

Managing type 1 or type 2 diabetes can be stressful and may lead to:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Diabetes burnout

These can affect your blood glucose control and how well you manage your condition over time. Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing:

  • Persistent sadness
  • Loss of interest in usual activities
  • Excessive worry
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Difficulty managing daily diabetes tasks

Your doctor can refer you to:

  • A counselor, therapist, or psychologist
  • Local behavioral health services through Spectrum Health, Trinity Health, Metro Health, or Mercy Health
  • Community mental health programs in Kent County

Support groups and educational programs in Grand Rapids and online can also help you connect with others living with diabetes.

Diabetes, Infections, and the Immune System

High blood glucose can slow down white blood cells, which fight infection. This makes it harder for your immune system to work effectively.

Ways to support your immune system

  • Keep your blood glucose in your target range
  • Get enough sleep each night
  • Wash your hands regularly
  • Get a yearly flu shot (available at clinics, pharmacies, and public health events in Grand Rapids)
  • Ask your doctor about the pneumonia vaccine, especially if you are over 65 or have other risk factors
  • See your doctor promptly if you feel unwell or suspect an infection

Thyroid Disease and Diabetes

People with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of thyroid disorders, including:

  • Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
  • Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)

Thyroid problems can affect:

  • Energy levels
  • Weight
  • Heart rate
  • Blood glucose control

Thyroid function is checked with a blood test. Ask your doctor if your thyroid has been tested recently.

Sexual Health and Diabetes

Reduced blood flow and nerve damage can affect sexual function in both men and women.

Men

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is:

  • The persistent inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for sexual activity
  • More common in men with diabetes

ED is usually a symptom of another problem, such as:

  • Nerve damage
  • Blood vessel disease
  • Hormonal imbalances
  • Psychological factors

Women

Women with diabetes may experience:

  • Decreased sexual desire
  • Vaginal dryness
  • Discomfort or pain with intercourse

These changes may be related to diabetes, hormonal changes (such as menopause), or both.

If you have concerns about sexual function, talk with your doctor or diabetes specialist. Treatment and support are available in Grand Rapids through primary care, urology, gynecology, and behavioral health services.

Local Resources and Where to Get Help in Grand Rapids, MI

If you live in Grand Rapids or the surrounding West Michigan area, you do not have to manage diabetes alone. Support is available from:

  • Your primary care doctor or family physician
  • Endocrinologists (diabetes specialists) at:
    • Spectrum Health
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health
    • Mercy Health
  • Diabetes nurse educators through hospital-based programs
  • Registered dietitians (nutrition services at local hospitals and clinics)
  • Podiatrists for foot care
  • Optometrists and ophthalmologists for regular eye exams
  • Dentists for oral health
  • Mental health professionals (counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists)
  • Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health for community programs, vaccinations, and education

Many local health systems also offer:

  • Diabetes education classes
  • Nutrition workshops
  • Support groups (in-person and virtual)

Key Points for Managing Long-Term Effects of Diabetes in Grand Rapids

  • Keeping blood pressure, blood glucose, and cholesterol within recommended ranges greatly reduces the risk of complications.
  • Maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, limiting alcohol, and not smoking are crucial.
  • Regular check-ups and screening (eyes, kidneys, feet, blood tests) help detect problems early, when they are easier to treat.
  • Physical activity—adapted to Michigan’s seasons and your abilities—is essential for blood glucose, weight, and heart health.
  • Smoking dramatically increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other diabetes complications.
  • Emotional health matters; seek support for stress, anxiety, or depression related to living with diabetes.

With the right care, support, and lifestyle choices, people with diabetes in Grand Rapids can reduce their risk of long-term complications and live active, healthy lives.