Capstone Med-Surg Practice Exam 2025 - Free Medical-Surgical Practice Questions and Study Guide

A common complication of uncontrolled diabetes is chronic kidney disease (CKD). This condition arises because prolonged high blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels in the kidneys, impairing their ability to filter waste from the blood. Over time, this damage can lead to reduced kidney function and ultimately kidney failure if not managed properly. People with diabetes are at a significantly higher risk for developing CKD compared to those without the condition, particularly if their diabetes is poorly controlled or if they also have high blood pressure, which often accompanies diabetes.

In the context of the other options, hypertension, anemia, and osteoporosis can also be complications or associations with diabetes; however, they are not specific or direct complications of uncontrolled diabetes in the same predominant way that chronic kidney disease is. For instance, hypertension can result from various factors, including obesity and lifestyle; it’s often recognized as a comorbid condition rather than a direct complication of diabetes. Anemia may occur in patients with diabetes due to reasons like chronic inflammation but is less typically outlined as a direct complication of uncontrolled diabetes. Osteoporosis is a bone condition affected by multiple factors, including hormone levels and nutrition, and while it can impact individuals with diabetes, it is not primarily linked as a complication of poor diabetic control. Thus