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Starting at what is commonly called middle age, operations of the human body begin to be more vulnerable to daily wear and tear; there is a general decline in physical, and possibly mental, functioning. In the Western countries, the length of life is often into the 70s.
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In general, only about three percent of the elderly living independently in the community will experience depression. That figure increases to around 20 to 30 percent of persons in nursing homes or with chronic illnesses like emphysema, heart disease or diabetes.
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Aging is the process of growing older, a process that includes physical changes and, sometimes, mental changes. "The aged" refers to elderly people, those who have reached an advanced age.
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Through the daily grapevine of popular culture, we get the message over and over that young is better than old. But new research contradicts these age-old stereotypes. Indeed, studies suggest that the older you get, the happier you become.
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Starting at what is commonly called middle age, operations of the human body become more vulnerable to daily wear and tear. There is a general decline in physical, and possibly mental, functioning.
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13 Real-Life Age-StoppersYou can't turn back the clock, but you can slow down the aging processes often associated with getting older.Says Robert N. Butler, M.D., president and CEO of The International Longevity Center in New York City: "Many of t...
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This term is used by demographers when referring to an increase over time in the proportion of older persons in the population. It does not necessarily imply an increase in life expectancy, that " people are living longer that they used to, " or that they are dying on average at older ages, although these phenomena are usually observed in association with aging of the population.
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Consider this fact: More than half the people who ever lived to be 65 are alive today. That alone suggests that myths about aging based on past generations may not hold true for this one. Let's look at 10 of those myths, and see what experts have to say about them.
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Discusses what we can do, if anything, to put ourselves in the category of those who live to advanced ages.
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Art, music, and other challenging activities may play a role in keeping the mind alert, even for those affected by dementia.
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Not only do baby boomers expect to live into their 80s or 90s, but they are expecting to be independent, one expert says.
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Beyond giving you energy to conquer a multitasking day, your diet can help slow the tick-tock of the biological clock that governs the aging process.
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No need to search for a secret formula to erase the effects of getting older. You already have the power to keep yourself feeling young for years.
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This report helps you avoid common health woes, such as heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and sight and hearing disorders.
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This report can help you preserve your independence and remain in your home in your later years. Includes information on financial and legal planning, finding and working with a caregiver, and useful home modifications.
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A practical guide to the causes of memory loss and the steps you can take to improve your ability to learn and remember for a lifetime.
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This report takes a view of the whole woman and helps her choose the most practical strategies for making her midlife transition.
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New research indicates that-while not exactly a fountain of youth-exercise can reverse some of the physiological signs of aging and reduce overall disease and mortality.
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Like the rest of your body, your eyes naturally change throughout your life. These changes occur gradually and become apparent in later years, as the structures in and around your eyes become less efficient. For most people, the first sign is presbyopia, deterioration of close-up vision. Luckily, this problem can be treated with reading glasses or bifocals.
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This report details how physical changes that occur as you age can affect your sexuality.It includes information on the therapies and medications that can help you overcome sexual problems.
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This report describes causes and treatments for the most common age-related skin problems. It also reviews the newest and most effective cosmetic treatments, including anti-aging creams, laser procedures, Botox injections, and surgeries.
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Learn how to put together a caregiving plan, draw on useful services, and address legal, medical, and financial planning issues. Also, find advice on involving family members, handling daily tasks, and maintaining your well being.
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Aimed at older adults, this report provides practical advice on how to avoid common and often deadly accidents at home.
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While regular physical activity is a cornerstone of wellness at any age, it’s during your 30s, 40s and 50s that exercise becomes especially important.
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It's never easy to ponder death, whether you're facing the demise of a loved one or the end of your own life. But taking some time to think and plan ahead for those final hours or days can be a future blessing for your family and others close to you. Most people want a say in all life's important decisions. The same should be true regarding decisions surrounding death, such as what kind of medical treatment you receive. But what if you're unable to make your decisions or wishes known? Say, for example, you are unconscious and can't speak or hear. Unless you have spoken with your loved ones and taken certain legal actions, there may be confusion and stress over what those decisions will be and who can make them for you.
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Physical removal of age spots can be costly and painful. Topical treatments take time to work, but are generally safe, cost less than removal procedures, and are easier on the skin.
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A single, abnormal gene on one of the autosomal chromosomes (one of the first 22 "non-sex" chromosomes) from either parent can cause certain diseases. One of the parents will usually have the disease (since it is dominant) in this mode of inheritance . Only one parent must have an abnormal gene in order for the child to inherit the disease.
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Diabetes is a life-long disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood. It can be caused by too little insulin (a hormone produced by the pancreas to regulate blood sugar), resistance to insulin, or both.
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This report includes information on blood sugar monitoring, diet and activity, insulin and other medications, insulin delivery systems, and innovations in treatment.
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Detailed information on diabetes and pregnancy
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This report provides advice about how to prevent or treat the most common form of diabetes. Learn about the components of a healthy diet and how to lose weight, and have fun trying out new recipes.
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Diabetes affects every part of your life, and it can create problems that aren’t easy to talk about with your health care provider.
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Detailed information on type 1 diabetes, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and statistics
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Detailed information on type 2 diabetes, including causes, prevention, risk factors, and treatment
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Detailed information on type 2 diabetes, including cause, symptom, prevention, risk factors, and treatment
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Detailed information on type 1 diabetes, including causes, symptoms, and treatment
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Detailed information on teens and diabetes
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Detailed information on diabetes and other endocrine and metabolic disorders that affect children
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List of online resources to find additional information on diabetes and other endocrine and metabolic disorders
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Detailed information on diabetes and other endocrine and metabolic disorders that affect children
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Detailed information on diabetes, including type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, and maturity-onset diabetes in the young
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Detailed information on special considerations for teenagers with diabetes
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If you have diabetes, you are two to four times more likely to have heart disease than someone without diabetes. You can control your health risks by making some changes in your life.
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Detailed information on the most common types of diabetes complications and ways to prevent future problems
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Detailed information on diabetes, including type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, teens and diabetes, and diet and diabetes
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Detailed information on type 1 diabetes, including causes, symptoms, complications, and treatment
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Detailed information on diabetes, including the different types of diabetes and potential complications of diabetes
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Most of us know that diabetes can lead to severe complications, such as blindness, kidney disease and amputations. But did you know that diabetes also greatly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease?
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Diabetes is a chronic disease that involves the regulation of blood sugar and occurs in two different forms, type 1 and type 2.
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Everyone feels down at times, but diabetics are especially prone to depression. An unhappy period that’s intense or lasts for more than a couple of weeks can be a sign of depression. Depression is a serious illness.
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The most important factors in the prevention of diabetes are weight control, regular exercise, a healthy low-fat diet (fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fish, and poultry), and not smoking.
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Is vitamin E good for diabetics?
Mary Pickett, M.D., is a lecturer for Harvard Medical School and an assistant professor of medicine at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, OR. At OHSU, she practices general internal medicine and teaches medical residents and students.
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Living with diabetes may increase the likelihood of depression. The connection may be go both ways: information from a diabetes trial suggests the possibility of a link between antidepressant use and diabetes.
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Carbohydrates are your body’s main source of glucose, a special kind of sugar. Your dietitian will probably recommend that 55 to 60 percent of your calories come from carbohydrates. There are two types of carbohydrates: complex and simple.
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If you have diabetes, wearing a medical identification (ID) bracelet or necklace at all times is a good idea.
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Detailed information on diabetes, including facts, statistics, types, diagnosis, complications, treatment, and management
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Detailed information on diagnosis protocols for diabetes
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I am a diabetic, and am allergic to eggs, which prevents my getting a flu shot. Can I receive a pneumonia shot? Also, are flu shots the only available medical preventative for the flu?
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Is hair loss a common symptom of diabetes, and is it reversible? I have noticed that my hair has gotten very thin and I have recently been diagnosed with diabetes?
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The incidence of diabetes has increased dramatically in recent years. Men should be tested for diabetes starting at age 45, because early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent further complications.
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Even small movements can greatly improve your health. Simple activity can also boost your mental outlook. And you may spend less money on your health care. Think of it this way: Small steps may take you a long distance.
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Type 1 diabetes can be controlled by taking insulin, eating a proper diet, and being active. These help your child’s body keep healthy blood sugar levels.
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Detailed information on alcohol use in persons with diabetes
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When you're sick, even with just a cold, your blood sugar level may rise. Ask your healthcare team to help you develop a sick-day plan for controlling blood sugar. Here are some guidelines.
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Choose carefully and cook wisely. As you shop, think about how the foods you choose will fit into your meal plan. When you cook, try to cut down on sugar and fat. If you have high blood pressure, cut down on salt as well.
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Detailed information on heart disease and diabetes, including symptoms, prevention, and treatment
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Glossary of terms relating to diabetes for patients and consumers
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Diabetes mellitus is a condition in which the pancreas no longer produces enough insulin or when cells stop responding to the insulin that is produced, so that glucose in the blood cannot be absorbed into the cells of the body. Symptoms include frequent urination, lethargy, excessive thirst, and hunger.
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Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a condition that occurs during pregnancy . Like other forms of diabetes, GDM involves a defect in the way the body processes and uses sugars (glucose) in the diet.
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What is "late onset" diabetes type 1?
Mary Pickett, M.D., is a lecturer for Harvard Medical School and an assistant professor of medicine at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, OR. At OHSU, she practices general internal medicine and teaches medical residents and students.
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Could a baby be diabetic from birth?
Leann M. Lesperance, M.D., Ph.D., is a lecturer on the Harvard Medical School faculty and a clinical assistant professor at SUNY-Upstate Medical University. She practices pediatrics in Binghamton, New York. She also holds a doctorate in medical engineering and is a research assistant professor in the Department of Bioengineering at Binghamton University.
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The FDA has ordered a warning label be put on the diabetes drugs Avandia and Actos due to evidence from studies that the medications may increase the risk of heart attack or death from cardiovascular disease.
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Harvard Medical School physician Celeste Robb-Nicholson, M.D. describes both the therapeutic and side effects of glucosamine on the body and how it relates to diabetes.
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Researchers concluded that people with diabetes enter the high-risk group for heart disease an average of 15 years earlier than those without the disease.
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The diabetes drug Avandia may increase the risk of heart attack in those taking it. Other medications are as effective at lowering blood sugar without Avandia's risks.
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A Harvard Medical School physician answers your question about whether it is safe for a diabetic to take niacin to lower cholesterol.
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Having diabetes may mean adjustments at work and in your social life. But these changes need not keep you from succeeding at work and enjoying your leisure time.
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Your meal plan tells you when to eat your meals and snacks, what kinds of foods to eat, and how much of each food to eat. You don’t have to give up all the foods you like. But you do need to follow some guidelines.
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Diabetes is the Greek term for " passing through, " a phrase used to describe multiple diseases characterized by excessive urination. There are multiple forms of diabetes.
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Diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disorder resulting from defects in insulin action, insulin production, or both. Insulin, a hormone secreted by the pancreas, helps the body use and store glucose produced during the digestion of food.
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Diabetes mellitus is a condition that occurs when either the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the body ' s cells stop responding to the insulin that is produced. In either case, glucose in the blood cannot be absorbed or used by the cells of the body.
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Gestational diabetes is a condition that occurs during pregnancy . Like other forms of diabetes, gestational diabetes involves a defect in the way the body processes and uses sugars (glucose) in the diet.
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Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease in which the body is not able to correctly process glucose for cell energy due to either an insufficient amount of the hormone insulin or a physical resistance to the insulin the body does produce. Without proper treatment through medication and/or lifestyle changes, the high blood glucose (or blood sugar) levels caused by diabetes can cause long-term damage to organ systems throughout the body.
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A serious disorder caused by an absence of or insufficient amount of insulin in the bloodstream. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas in varying amounts, depending on the concentration of glucose (sugar).
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Diabetes mellitus describes a group of diseases in which there is an elevated level of the sugar glucose, the body's main source of energy for cellular functions, in the blood. The level of glucose, as well as other "fuel" molecules, is increased due to a disorder in the production or function of the hormone insulin.
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What causes diabetes? Scientists aren't sure, but heredity, obesity, lack of exercise and other factors play a part.
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"If you do have diabetes, educate yourself and start managing your illness," Ms. LaBelle says.
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If managing diabetes seems like a full-time job, keep in mind it’s a task that can’t be taken lightly. Diabetes is the fifth-leading cause of death by disease in the United States.
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Did you know that if you have diabetes, you have a two to four times greater risk for heart disease and stroke than people without diabetes?
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What causes poor circulation in people with diabetes? Is it the blood somehow thickened from glucose, or is it because of a higher incidence of atherosclerosis?
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I have high blood pressure and am 8 pounds overweight. My doctor says that is probable that I have glucose intolerance. Is this the same disease as diabetes? What should I do about it?
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My 75-year-old father has cirrhosis of the liver due to alcoholism. He also has type 2 diabetes. How will the cirrhosis affect his diabetes?
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Is it absolutely necessary for a diabetic who does not have high blood pressure to take a blood pressure pill anyway?
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I'm an 86-year-old man with type 2 diabetes. I get my eyes checked, eat carefully, and test my blood sugar. I exercise and still play tennis. Recently, I read that diabetes may be a precursor to Alzheimer's disease. It scared me. What do you think?
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Recommendations for eating eggs for those with diabetes.
Q. My husband has type 2 diabetes and has started eating two eggs about three times a week. He’s looking to fill up on low-carb foods he likes. But I’ve read that eggs may not be a good idea for people with diabetes. Should he cut back?
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I read about a study at UCLA in which men with type 2 diabetes were in a program combining aerobic exercise, low-fat diets, and relatively high amounts of "good" carbohydrates. Half of them cured their diabetes. Is this possible?
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Simple and small movements can get you started exercising. You don’t need to join a gym to start moving. Make it easy on yourself and you will be able to make exercising a habit. Slow, gentle, and easy is the way to begin to make exercising part of your life.
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Taking care of yourself means developing a routine for things like meals, exercising, and taking medication. But sometimes this routine is disrupted when you travel. Your healthcare team can help you work out a plan to prepare for unexpected situations.
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When you have diabetes, your body needs special care. This care helps you stay healthy and prevent complications. Exercise and healthy eating are a part of this. You can also protect yourself by taking special care of your feet and skin.
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The diabetes food pyramid is a tool to help you eat a wide range of healthy foods. You can use it to plan low-fat meals and snacks that include carbohydrates and protein.
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Living with diabetes means making many changes in your life, and these changes may seem overwhelming. When you feel down, reach out to your family and friends, and to your healthcare team. Here are a list of other resources.
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Diabetes occurs when there are high levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood. All three types of diabetes involve problems with insulin, a hormone that removes glucose from the blood and allows it to enter the body's cells. (The cells use it for energy.) If your body is unable to make or use insulin properly, you have a high blood glucose level.
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Your blood sugar will most likely return to normal after delivery. But gestational diabetes is a warning sign that you are at risk for getting diabetes later in life. You're also more likely to have gestational diabetes with your next pregnancy.
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The only way to be sure your blood sugar stays within a normal range is to check it. You will most likely be asked to check your blood sugar at home one or more times a day. Your healthcare provider will teach you how.
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Diabetes is a chronic (lifelong) and progressive condition, but it can be managed. With help from your family, your friends, and your healthcare team, you can learn to take care of yourself and stay healthy.
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Statistics relating to diabetes for patients and consumers
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