These serious complications include heart disease and stroke. People living with type 2 Diabetes are at a far greater risk of dying from heart disease. It is the leading cause of death.

Many folks with type 2 Diabetes have high blood pressure. If they have not been diagnosed, they may not be taking the proper prescription medication that will help to keep their pressure under control. High blood pressure makes it more difficult for people to fight off what could be dangerous infections.

People with type 2 Diabetes are at a much greater risk of kidney disease and nerve damage. This nerve damage accounts for many leg and foot amputations. If a person has not been treated for type 2 diabetes, they are at serious risk for glaucoma and cataracts. They may also have retinopathy, which can lead to blindness.

If you are overweight and lead a sedentary lifestyle, it is imperative that you are seen by a doctor so they can diagnose if you have type 2 diabetes. Nevertheless, you should embark on a healthier lifestyle and reduce these risks even if you test negative for the condition.

Managing diabetes day in and day out can take a toll on your mental well-being and that is why treatment for diabetes needs to include support. Support can be in many forms. You could find support right at your fingertips with an online support group. These are really helpful if time is short. Folks online become a sort of “family” and will offer support while they get to know you. It ends up being a safe place to voice your sadness, frustration, and even your joy.

You can also join a support group where you meet at a mutual location and talk one-on-one with folks who have Diabetes. Some meetings are run by experienced medical personnel, who are available to answer your questions. Sharing helps to reduce the burdens you carry and you will find that you will meet more people who are living with diabetes and leading happy lives. This will inspire and motivate you during those times of sadness. And soon you may find that your stories begin to help the people who need your support.

There aren’t really symptoms for gestational diabetes, but you are considered high risk for the condition if you have sugar in your urine, you are obese, have had gestational diabetes in a past pregnancy, and/or have a family history of diabetes.

Some practitioners may also screen patients who have previously given birth to a large baby, had a baby with a birth defect, you are more than 35 years old, or if you have high blood pressure.

If you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, there are some things you can do to keep your glucose levels on track. These include:

• Eat a well-balanced diet, with meals and snacks planned in advance based on your height and weight
• Don’t skip meals and avoid sugary items such as candy, cakes and soda
• Maintain a moderate exercise level to help your body process glucose
• It may be necessary to take insulin

So what can be done?

Fortunately, there are some helpful strategies out there to help parents get their children to become more active without resorting to threats and groundings. For example, it’s important to try and balance a child’s recreation time. That means not banning them from using computers or playing video games entirely, but instituting a type of trade-off, where an hour of exercise is rewarded with 30 minutes of video game time.

Also, remember that quality trumps quantity: fifteen minutes here, 50 jumping jacks there, are just as good as two hours of non-stop strenuous activity. Most importantly, make it a group effort. Children will be more likely to enjoy exercising if done in tandem with a parent.

Asparagus is a non-starchy vegetable and that is important. Many of the starchy vegetables such as potatoes need to be consumed sparingly as they are high in carbohydrates. Asparagus has healthy antioxidants, high in B vitamins and folate, which is great for cardiovascular health; it is also a good source of vitamin C, potassium, fiber and thiamin. It has no fat, no cholesterol and is low in sodium.

Any diet should include plenty of vegetables, and if you are planning meals for a person who is diabetic there should be plenty of healthy vegetables served each day.

With that in mind, there’s some good news to report this week from the Colorado School of Public Health. It found that pregnant diabetics can reduce the chances that their child will become obese and, in turn, potentially diabetic, by breast-feeding them for, at a minimum, six months.

The study tracked 94 children from diabetic mothers with approximately 400 from non-diabetic mothers for 13 years. The children who were breast-fed by diabetic mothers for at least six months, had a slower growth of body mass index, which contributes to obesity.

Naturally, there may be other factors at play here, such as diet, level of exercise, and access to quality medical care. But the science is irrefutable around two facts: one, children born to diabetic mothers have a higher risk of being obese, and higher obesity increases the risk of diabetes.

Therefore, any data that can help reduce the risk of childhood obesity and with it, childhood diabetes, should be embraced.

• Increased hunger
• Unexplained weight loss
• Frequent urination

A new study, the Diabetes Prevention Program, by the National Institutes of Health, has found that people at increased risk for Type 2 diabetes, can prevent or delay the onset of the disease by losing 5 to 7 percent of their body weight through increased physical activity and a reduced fat and lower-calorie diet.

Suggested tips including moving more by walking, taking the stairs, doing in-home exercises, playing games and taking bike rides, as well as eating more colorful vegetables and fruits, whole grain foods, low-fat foods and avoiding unhealthy snacks.

The National Institute of Health has resource materials for people interested in taking steps to prevent Type 2 diabetes, as well as those who are currently managing the disease. For more information visit http://ndep.nih.gov/index.aspx.

You may not be able to control the disease, but you can manage it with a diet for diabetics, which can prevent many of the complications of the disease.

You can create a customized diet plan just for you with the help of a registered dietician. This diet will take into account many factors, including any medications you’re currently taking, your usual lifestyle, weight and any other health issues.

But a good place to start when managing diabetes or even before you’re diagnosed is:

• Limit foods high in sugar
• Eat smaller portions, spread throughout the day
• Be careful of the quantity of carbohydrates you eat and spread out your consumption
• Eat a variety of whole-grain foods, fruits and vegetables every day
• Limit use of alcohol
• Eat less fat
• Use less salt

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has an interactive diabetes meal planning tutorial that can be found in English or Spanish at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/diabetesmealplanning/htm/index.htm or http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/diabetesmealplanningspanish/htm/index.htm.

This unfortunate reality underscores the importance of always being aware of the symptoms of diabetes. Such symptoms may include rapid and unexplained weight loss, unquenchable thirst, and constant fatigue. Again, even if you eat properly and exercise, you may be at risk for diabetes, so if these symptoms apply, meet with a doctor immediately.

For those who have been diagnosed, one of the most important and immediate steps to take is to reduce carbohydrate intake. This can be somewhat complicated because fruits such as apples, oranges, and cherries which are otherwise good for you – have carbohydrates. So reduce your fruit (and bread) portions and minimize – if not eliminate – pasta from your diet.

While these changes seem stark, millions of healthy diabetics can attest that it’s by no means insurmountable.

This unfortunate reality underscores the importance of always being aware of the symptoms of diabetes. Such symptoms may include rapid and unexplained weight loss, unquenchable thirst, and constant fatigue. Again, even if you eat properly and exercise, you may be at risk for diabetes, so if these symptoms apply, meet with a doctor immediately.

For those who have been diagnosed, one of the most important and immediate steps to take is to reduce carbohydrate intake. This can be somewhat complicated because fruits such as apples, oranges, and cherries –which are otherwise good for you – have carbohydrates. So reduce your fruit (and bread) portions and minimize – if not eliminate – pasta from your diet.

While these changes seem stark, millions of healthy diabetics can attest that it’s by no means insurmountable.