National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Diabetes Type 2 is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine 
National Institutes of Health
Diabetes Type 2
Also called: Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes means your blood glucose, or blood sugar, is too high. With type 2 diabetes, the more common type, your body does not make or use insulin well. Insulin is a hormone that helps glucose get into your cells to give them energy. Without insulin, too much glucose stays in your blood. Over time, high blood glucose can lead to serious problems with your heart, eyes, kidneys, nerves, and gums and teeth.
You have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes if you are older, obese, have a family history of diabetes, or do not exercise.
The symptoms of type 2 diabetes appear slowly. Some people do not notice symptoms at all. The symptoms can include
- Being very thirsty
- Urinating often
- Feeling very hungry or tired
- Losing weight without trying
- Having sores that heal slowly
- Having blurry eyesight
A blood test can show if you have diabetes. Many people can manage their diabetes through healthy eating, physical activity, and blood glucose testing. Some people also need to take diabetes medicines.
NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
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Start Here
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Am I at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes?(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Also available in Spanish
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Facts about Type 2
(American Diabetes Association)
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Type 2 Diabetes: What You Need to Know(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- In English and Spanish
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Am I at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes?
The top row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Basics
,
Learn More
, and
Multimedia & Cool Tools
.
For group Basics
For group Learn More
For group Multimedia & Cool Tools
The bottom row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Research
,
Reference Shelf
, and
For You
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For group Research
For group Reference Shelf
For group For You
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Overviews
- Diabetes Mellitus Type 2: Overview (Beyond the Basics)(UpToDate)
- Diabetes Type 2(InteliHealth, Harvard Medical School)
- Type 2 Diabetes(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Latest News
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Sleepless Nights and Your Health(10/16/2012, HealthDay)
- Diet, Exercise May Boost 'Good' Cholesterol, Study Suggests(10/11/2012, HealthDay)
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After Diabetes during Pregnancy, Healthy Diet Linked to Reduced Type 2 Diabetes Risk(10/09/2012, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
- Diabetes Screening May Not Lower Overall Death Rates(10/04/2012, HealthDay)
- Diabetes Patients Should Have More Voice in Treatment(10/02/2012, HealthDay)
- More News on Diabetes Type 2
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Sleepless Nights and Your Health
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Diagnosis/Symptoms
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A1C Test and Diabetes(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Diabetes Tests(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
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Diabetes: Numbers at a Glance(National Diabetes Education Program)
- PDF
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Diagnosis of Diabetes(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Microalbumin Test(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Symptoms(American Diabetes Association)
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A1C Test and Diabetes
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Treatment
- Diabetes Mellitus Type 2: Treatment (Beyond the Basics)(UpToDate)
- Medicines for Type 2 Diabetes: A Review of the Research for Adults(Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
- Also available in Spanish
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MedlinePlus: Diabetes Medicines(National Library of Medicine)
- Also available in Spanish
- Premixed Insulin for Type 2 Diabetes: A Guide for Adults(Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
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Prevention/Screening
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Family Health History and Diabetes(National Diabetes Education Program)
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Get Real: You Don't Have to Knock Yourself Out to Prevent Diabetes(National Diabetes Education Program)
- PDF
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MedlinePlus: Pre-diabetes(National Library of Medicine)
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More Than 50 Ways to Prevent Diabetes(National Diabetes Education Program)
- PDF
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Small Steps, Big Rewards: Your Game Plan to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes(National Diabetes Education Program)
- PDF
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Step in the Right Direction: Lose Weight & Lower Your Risk for Type 2 Diabetes(National Diabetes Education Program)
- PDF
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Take Steps to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
(Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion)
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Ten Ways African Americans Can Prevent Type 2 Diabetes(National Diabetes Education Program)
- PDF
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Ten Ways American Indians Can Prevent Type 2 Diabetes(National Diabetes Education Program)
- PDF
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Ten Ways Hispanics / Latinos Can Prevent Type 2 Diabetes(National Diabetes Education Program)
- PDF
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Your Game Plan to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes: Fat and Calorie Counter(National Diabetes Education Program)
- PDF
- Return to top
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Family Health History and Diabetes
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Alternative Therapy
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Diabetes and CAM: A Focus on Dietary Supplements(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
- Return to top
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Diabetes and CAM: A Focus on Dietary Supplements
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Nutrition
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MedlinePlus: Diabetic Diet(National Library of Medicine)
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
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MedlinePlus: Diabetic Diet
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Coping
- Anger(American Diabetes Association)
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Help a Loved One with Diabetes(National Diabetes Education Program)
- Also available in Spanish
- Stress(American Diabetes Association)
- Return to top
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Disease Management
- AADE7 Self-Care Behaviors Handouts(American Association of Diabetes Educators)
- All about Blood Glucose for People with Type 2 Diabetes(American Diabetes Association) - PDF
- Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices(Food and Drug Administration)
- Blood Sugar Testing: Why, When and How(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Checking for Ketones(American Diabetes Association)
- Diabetes and Exercise: When to Monitor Your Blood Sugar(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Diabetes Management: How Lifestyle, Daily Routine Affect Blood Sugar(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Diabetes Mellitus Type 2: Alcohol, Exercise, and Medical Care (Beyond the Basics)(UpToDate)
- Diabetes: Monitoring Your Blood Sugar Level(American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Also available in Spanish
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Four Steps to Control Your Diabetes for Life(National Diabetes Education Program)
- Also available in Spanish
- Getting the Very Best Care for Your Diabetes(American Diabetes Association) - PDF
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Have Diabetes. Will Travel.(National Diabetes Education Program)
- PDF
- Monitor blood glucose - slideshow
- Also available in Spanish
- Staying Healthy with Diabetes(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Taking Care of Type 2 Diabetes(American Diabetes Association)
- Tight Diabetes Control(American Diabetes Association)
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What I Need to Know about Physical Activity and Diabetes(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Also available in Spanish
- Where Do I Begin with Type 2?(American Diabetes Association)
- Your First Doctor Visit(American Diabetes Association)
- Your Glucose Meter(Food and Drug Administration)
- Return to top
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Related Issues
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Causes of Diabetes(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
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Depression and Diabetes(National Institute of Mental Health)
- Diabetes and Cancer(American Diabetes Association)
- Diabetes and Environmental Hazards(Environmental Protection Agency)
- Diabetes Myths(American Diabetes Association)
- Diabetes: Five Ways to Be Active in Your Care at the Hospital(Joint Commission) - PDF
- Also available in Spanish
- Driving When You Have Diabetes(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
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For People with Diabetes or High Blood Pressure: Get Checked for Kidney Disease(National Kidney Disease Education Program)
- Recognizing and Handling Depression for People with Diabetes(American Diabetes Association) - PDF
- Seasonal Flu Information(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Your Health Care Team(American Diabetes Association)
- Return to top
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Causes of Diabetes
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Health Check Tools
- Check Your Risk for Developing Type 2 Diabetes(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Diabetes Risk Test(American Diabetes Association)
- Return to top
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Tutorials
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Diabetes
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Diabetes - Introduction(Patient Education Institute)
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
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Diabetes
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Videos
- Change for Life(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Control Your Diabetes: It's Worth Your Time, Part 1: The Basics(Healthy Roads Media)
- Control Your Diabetes: It's Worth Your Time, Part 2: Diet and Exercise(Healthy Roads Media)
- Also available in Spanish
- Control Your Diabetes: It's Worth Your Time, Part 3: Medication & Glucose Numbers(Healthy Roads Media)
- Also available in Spanish
- Diabetes Movie(Nemours Foundation)
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Diabetes Travel Tips Video(National Diabetes Education Program)
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Healthy Eating at Family Gatherings and Special Events Video(National Diabetes Education Program)
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Know Your Diabetes ABCs(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
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Living with Diabetes: Finding the Support You Need Video(National Diabetes Education Program)
- Monitoring(American Association of Diabetes Educators)
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Physical Activity: Practical Tips and Action Steps Video(National Diabetes Education Program)
- Return to top
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Financial Issues
- Diabetes Screenings(Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)
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Financial Help for Diabetes Care(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Also available in Spanish
- Health Insurance Options(American Diabetes Association)
- Return to top
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2(National Institutes of Health)
- Return to top
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
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Genetics
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Genetic Landscape of Diabetes(National Center for Biotechnology Information)
- Genetics of Diabetes(American Diabetes Association)
- Return to top
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Genetic Landscape of Diabetes
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Research
- Anti-Inflammatory Drug, Used for Decades, Now Found to Lower Blood Glucose Levels in People with Type 2 Diabetes(American Diabetes Association)
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Diabetes Prevention Program(National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse)
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Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study (DPPOS) Questions and Answers(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Does the Plastic Chemical Bisphenol A Contribute to Type 2 Diabetes?(American College of Physicians) - PDF
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Effects of Chromium Picolinate in People at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
- Improving Each Additional Lifestyle Factor Further Reduces the Risk for Diabetes(American College of Physicians) - PDF
- Methods for Delivering Insulin and Monitoring Blood Sugar: A Review of the Research for Children, Teens, and Adults with Diabetes(Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
- Restricted Calorie Diet Improves Heart Function in Obese Patients with Diabetes(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
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Study Finds Interventions to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes Give Good Return on Investment(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Study Finds No Increased Heart, Cancer Risk from Daily Insulin Glargine Use(American Diabetes Association)
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Type 2 Diabetes(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
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Understanding Insulin Sensitivity and Diabetes(National Institutes of Health)
- Years of Life Without Diabetes Decreasing(American Diabetes Association)
- Return to top
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
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Dictionaries/Glossaries
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Diabetes Dictionary(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Also available in Spanish
- Take Charge of Your Diabetes: Glossary(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
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Diabetes Dictionary
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Directories
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Directory of Diabetes Organizations(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Find a Diabetes Educator(American Association of Diabetes Educators)
- Return to top
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Directory of Diabetes Organizations
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Organizations
- American Diabetes Association
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National Diabetes Education Program
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National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
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National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Return to top
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Newsletters/Print Publications
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Diabetes Research and News(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Return to top
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Diabetes Research and News
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Law and Policy
- Air Travel and Diabetes(American Diabetes Association)
- Also available in Spanish
- Discrimination Based on Diabetes(American Diabetes Association)
- Return to top
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Statistics
- National Diabetes Fact Sheet, 2011(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF
- Also available in Spanish
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National Diabetes Statistics, 2011(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Return to top
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MedlinePlus Magazine
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"As a Native Nation, We Must Fight Diabetes..."
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"Don't Take Diabetes for Granted"
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"My Biggest Challenge with Diabetes..."
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"Small Steps, Big Rewards": Preventing Type 2 Diabetes
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"With Diabetes, It's Always a Continuous Education and a Continuous Struggle"
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Discussing Diabetes with Your Healthcare Provider
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For Men, Ignoring Diabetes Can Be Deadly
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Kidney Disease and Diabetes: What You Need to Know
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Preventing Diabetes
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Type 2 Diabetes Widespread in Adults
- Return to top
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"As a Native Nation, We Must Fight Diabetes..."
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Men
- Living with Diabetes: Men's Health(American Diabetes Association)
- Return to top
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Women
- Diabetes(Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)
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Diabetes Risk after Gestational Diabetes(National Diabetes Education Program)
- PDF
- Women and Diabetes: Frequently Asked Questions(American Diabetes Association)
- Return to top
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Seniors
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Diabetes(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
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Diabetes in Older People - A Disease You Can Manage(National Institute on Aging)
- Also available in Spanish
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Five Ways Older Adults Can Be More Physically Active(National Diabetes Education Program)
- PDF
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It's Not Too Late to Prevent Diabetes(National Diabetes Education Program)
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Power to Control Diabetes Is in Your Hands(National Diabetes Education Program)
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
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Diabetes
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Patient Handouts
- Blood glucose monitoring
- Also available in Spanish
- Diabetes diet - type 2
- Also available in Spanish
- High blood sugar
- Also available in Spanish
- Home blood sugar testing
- Also available in Spanish
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If You Have Diabetes, Know Your Blood Sugar Numbers(National Diabetes Education Program)
- PDF
- Also available in Spanish
- Managing your blood sugar
- Also available in Spanish
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More Than 50 Ways to Prevent Diabetes(National Diabetes Education Program)
- PDF
- Type 2 diabetes
- Also available in Spanish
- Type 2 diabetes - self-care
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
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You may also be interested in these related encyclopedia pages:
MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
Languages
Diabetes Type 2 - Multiple Languages
