Chronic complications of diabetes: Contemporary classification

Abstract

Traditionally, chronic complications of diabetes have been
classified as microvascular and macrovascular. As our
knowledge and understanding of diabetes develops, we
increasingly find that conventional classifications and
frameworks are unable to encapsulate the wide spectrum
of the syndrome. We propose a seven-angled rubric, to
serve as a contemporary taxonomic structure for diabetes
complications. This includes not only the vascular
consequences, but sapio-metabolic, oculo-metabolic,
viscero-metabolic, musculoskeletal and repro-metabolic
complications of diabetes as well. This taxonomic structure,
presented in tabular and hexagonal form, should prove
useful for all students of diabetology
Keywords: Chronic disease, complications, diabetes, type
2 diabetes, vascular complications, vessel disease