illness guide -diabetes
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- diabetes.org
- Patient Voices: Type 2 Diabetes, NY Times Health Guide
- EverydayHealth.com
- dLife.com
- The Most Complete Food Counter
The American Diabetes Association's website provides useful information, focusing on type 2 diabetes.
Six men and women talk about living with diabetes in this interactive feature from The NY Times Health Guide.
Provides the basics: treatment, management and caregiving sections for type 1 and type 2. Find recipes, blogs and e-newsletters for some daily inspiration.
Run by dLife TV network, this site offers some good practical information including specifics for seniors and caregivers.
Written by Annette B. Natow and Jo-Ann Heslin, this book gives carb counts for tons of food items including fresh, frozen, packaged and take-out.
Complications Caused By Diabetes
Below is a quick reference list of complications due to diabetes found on the American Diabetes Association's website (diabetes.org).
Heart Disease and Stroke
People with diabetes have extra reason to be mindful of heart and blood vessel disease. Diabetes carries an increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and complications related to poor circulation.
Kidney Disease
Diabetes can damage the kidneys, which not only can cause them to fail, but can also make them lose their ability to filter out waste products.
Eye Complications
Diabetes can cause eye problems and may lead to blindness. People with diabetes do have a higher risk of blindness than people without diabetes. Early detection and treatment of eye problems can save your sight.
Diabetes, Oral Health and Hygiene
There are more bacteria in your mouth right now than there are people on Earth. If those germs settle into your gums, you've got gum disease.
Diabetic Neuropathy and Nerve Damage
One of the most common complications of diabetes is diabetic neuropathy. Neuropathy means damage to the nerves that run throughout the body, connecting the spinal cord to muscles, skin, blood vessels, and other organs.
Foot Complications
People with diabetes can develop many different foot problems. Foot problems most often happen when there is nerve damage in the feet or when blood flow is poor. Learn how to protect your feet by following some basic guidelines.
Skin Complications
As many as one-third of people with diabetes will have a skin disorder caused or affected by diabetes at some time in their lives. In fact, such problems are sometimes the first sign that a person has diabetes. Luckily, most skin conditions can be prevented or easily treated if caught early.
Gastroparesis and Diabetes
Gastroparesis is a type of neuropathy (nerve damage) in which food is delayed from leaving the stomach. It is a disorder that affects people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Depression
Feeling down once in a while is normal. But some people feel a sadness that just won't go away. Life seems hopeless. Feeling this way most of the day for two weeks or more is a sign of serious depression.
Heart Disease and Stroke
People with diabetes have extra reason to be mindful of heart and blood vessel disease. Diabetes carries an increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and complications related to poor circulation.
Kidney Disease
Diabetes can damage the kidneys, which not only can cause them to fail, but can also make them lose their ability to filter out waste products.
Eye Complications
Diabetes can cause eye problems and may lead to blindness. People with diabetes do have a higher risk of blindness than people without diabetes. Early detection and treatment of eye problems can save your sight.
Diabetes, Oral Health and Hygiene
There are more bacteria in your mouth right now than there are people on Earth. If those germs settle into your gums, you've got gum disease.
Diabetic Neuropathy and Nerve Damage
One of the most common complications of diabetes is diabetic neuropathy. Neuropathy means damage to the nerves that run throughout the body, connecting the spinal cord to muscles, skin, blood vessels, and other organs.
Foot Complications
People with diabetes can develop many different foot problems. Foot problems most often happen when there is nerve damage in the feet or when blood flow is poor. Learn how to protect your feet by following some basic guidelines.
Skin Complications
As many as one-third of people with diabetes will have a skin disorder caused or affected by diabetes at some time in their lives. In fact, such problems are sometimes the first sign that a person has diabetes. Luckily, most skin conditions can be prevented or easily treated if caught early.
Gastroparesis and Diabetes
Gastroparesis is a type of neuropathy (nerve damage) in which food is delayed from leaving the stomach. It is a disorder that affects people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Depression
Feeling down once in a while is normal. But some people feel a sadness that just won't go away. Life seems hopeless. Feeling this way most of the day for two weeks or more is a sign of serious depression.
The main objective of diabetes treatment is to keep the blood glucose level in normal range.
