Alcohol can lower blood sugar levels to the point of hypoglycemia. Keep careful track of your blood sugar levels when drinking alcohol, because certain diabetes medications also lower blood glucose levels.

Detailed information on the most common types of diabetes complications and ways to prevent future problems

Diabetes affects the cardiovascular system, but many problems aren't apparent until a person has a heart attack or stroke.

If you have diabetes, you are twice as likely to have high blood pressure. Untreated, high blood pressure can raise your risk for heart disease.

Poorly controlled diabetes can lead to gum disease, which is an infection of the gums and bone that hold the teeth in place.

Looking for vital diabetes facts and figures? Here are statistics for both patients and consumers.

Diabetes can damage the nerves in your feet, as well as lead to blood vessel disease. These conditions make it more difficult to notice when you injure your foot or develop a sore.

Nephropathy is the deterioration of the kidneys. The final stage of nephropathy is called end-stage renal disease, or ESRD.

The risk of developing nerve damage, or neuropathy, increases the longer a person has diabetes. About half of people with diabetes have some form of neuropathy.

Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness in American adults. It is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina.

If you're older than 45, you should be tested for diabetes. If you are younger, you should be tested if you are at high risk.

Diabetes affects the way the body metabolizes, or uses, digested food to make glucose, the main source of fuel for the body.

Detailed information on the three forms of diabetes: type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes

Gastric bypass surgery involves bypassing a part of the small intestine that absorbs nutrients. For this reason, these surgeries are referred to as malabsorptive procedures.

Gastric stapling surgery is a type of weight loss surgery that limits the amount of food a person can eat.

Gestational diabetes is a condition in which a pregnant woman has elevated glucose levels and other symptoms of diabetes—but did not have diabetes before she became pregnant.

Glossary of terms relating to diabetes for patients and consumers

You can monitor your blood sugar at home with one of a variety of devices that use a small sample of blood.

Steam vegetables in low-fat broth or water, and use vegetable oil spray instead of oil, shortening, or butter.

Detailed information on diabetes, including facts, statistics, types, diagnosis, complications, treatment, and management

Hypoglycemia is most often seen as a complication of diabetes and is sometimes referred to as "insulin reaction."

Insulin is classified according to the speed of its action, the length of time when it's most effective, and its duration.

Keeping extra weight off requires effort and commitment, just as losing weight does.

Detailed information on healthy cooking tips for persons with diabetes

Medical treatment can help with weight loss if your own efforts are unsuccessful—or if you have a medical condition that makes it crucial to lose weight.

Most people who have metabolic syndrome have insulin resistance. This may be a beginning of the development of type 2 diabetes.

Detailed information on obesity, including obesity causes, obesity health effects, obesity medical treatment, obesity surgical treatment, maintaining weight loss, and obesity prevention

Whatever treatment plan a person follows, losing weight slowly will be more effective and healthy over the long term.

List of online resources to find additional information on diabetes

Many types of diabetes pills are available, and each type has a specific action.

Heart disease, high blood pressure, and kidney disease are some of the complications of diabetes.

Obesity is a serious, chronic disease that can inflict substantial harm to a person’s health. Learn about obesity causes and obesity health effects.

Given the chronic diseases and conditions associated with obesity and the fact that obesity is difficult to treat, prevention is extremely important.

People with diabetes are encouraged to limit the sodium in their diets to help prevent or to control high blood pressure.

Detailed information on obesity surgical treatment, including gastric bypass surgery, and gastric stapling surgery

Detailed information on diabetes, including facts, statistics, types, diagnosis, complications, treatment, and management

Detailed information on diabetes treatment and management

Detailed information on obesity treatment, including obesity medical treatment, obesity surgical treatment, obesity gastric bypass (malabsorptive) surgery, and obesity gastric stapling (restrictive) surgery

Type 1 diabetes usually develops in children or young adults, but can start at any age.

A person with type 2 diabetes either can't make enough insulin or can't properly use it.