One of the most serious complications of diabetes is damage to the blood vessels. This damage can affect both large and small arteries, increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetic retinopathy (eye disease), diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease), diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage), poor wound healing, and even amputation.
Research published in Diabetes Care (2015;38:521-528) examined the relationship between blood vitamin D levels and vascular complications in nearly 9,800 adults aged 50–75 with type 2 diabetes. Approximately half of the participants had low vitamin D levels (25-hydroxyvitamin D ≤49 nmol/L). Compared with participants who had higher vitamin D levels, those who were vitamin D deficient had a significantly greater risk of both large-vessel (macrovascular) and small-vessel (microvascular) complications.
Because this was an observational study, it cannot prove that low vitamin D causes diabetic complications. However, the findings add to growing evidence that maintaining adequate vitamin D levels may be an important part of overall health for people with diabetes. If you have diabetes, it is reasonable to ask your healthcare provider whether your vitamin D level should be checked.
