Over 20 million Americans have diabetes and almost one-third are not aware that they have it. Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to heart disease, kidney failure, leg infections, and other serious health problems. In fact, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in the United States.

By following the steps below and working with your healthcare team, you can prevent or control diabetes and even reduce your risk of long-term complications.

I. Understanding Your Diabetes

Step 1: What is diabetes?

Step 2: Who gets type 2 diabetes?

Step 3: How do you know if you have diabetes?

II. Managing Your Diabetes

Step 4: You're in charge - design a treatment plan

Step 5: Monitor your blood sugar

Step 6: Lose weight and follow the right diet

Step 7: Exercise

Step 8: Drugs and insulin

III. Knowing the Consequences of Diabetes

Step 9: Treat low blood sugar

Step 10: Avoid long-term complications

Learn More Are you overweight? Counting carbohydrates Gestational diabetes Glycemic index How to read a food label Keeping track of your medications Metabolic syndrome Sweeteners and sugar substitutes The Mediterranean diet Type 2 diabetes drug index Types of insulin

Helpful Handouts Emergency warning signs Calorie and fiber charts Track your weight-loss goals

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.