Diabetes can be severe and life-threatening in the elderly if not treated in the preliminary stages. Major Complications of Diabetes are: Cardiovascular- like Heart Attacks, Stroke, and Paralysis-- these may be life-threatening or debilitating ones. Renal - Kidney failure; which may require Dialysis and ultimately Kidney Transplant may also be a life-threatening and severely debilitating complication of Diabetes. Eye complications - Retinopathy, which affects the Retina or the light-sensing part (like the film in a camera) of the eyes, Glaucoma, and severe cataract all may cause Blindness and are irreversible. Neuropathy - Nerves that are responsible for sending and receiving impulses from and to Brain get affected, this causes symptoms like pain, burning, numbness or tingling in the feet. When Nerves of the Autonomic nervous system get affected, they mask the symptoms of Heart attack (Painless angina and Heart Attacks), cause problems with digestion, heaviness i