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.

What About Low-Carb Diets? What's the Role of Fiber?

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

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