American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Practice Exam 2025 - Free ANCC Practice Questions and Study Guide

Monitoring for complications in patients with long-term uncontrolled diabetes is crucial, as these patients are at risk for various long-term effects of the disease. Diabetic retinopathy is a common complication that occurs due to damage to the blood vessels in the retina caused by prolonged high blood sugar levels. This condition can lead to vision problems and is often asymptomatic in the early stages, making routine screening important.

Patients with uncontrolled diabetes experience fluctuating blood glucose levels, leading to microvascular and macrovascular complications. Diabetic retinopathy falls under microvascular complications, which also include diabetic nephropathy and diabetic neuropathy. Over time, high glucose levels can result in changes to the retinal blood vessels, which may result in hemorrhage, exudates, and, eventually, vision loss if not properly managed.

While other complications exist, such as hypoglycemic attacks, cardiac arrhythmias, and weight gain, these do not directly relate to long-term, chronic effects seen in patients with uncontrolled diabetes in the same way that diabetic retinopathy does. Hypoglycemic attacks are more associated with episodes of low blood sugar rather than chronic issues stemming from high blood sugar levels. Cardiac arrhythmias can arise from various factors and are not exclusively tied to long