Hemodialysis is the most common method used to treat advanced and permanent kidney failure. Since the 1960s, when hemodialysis first became a practical treatment for kidney failure, we've learned much about how to make hemodialysis treatments more effective and minimize side effects. In recent years, more compact and simpler dialysis machines have made home dialysis increasingly attractive. But even with better procedures and equipment, hemodialysis is still a complicated and inconvenient therapy that requires a coordinated effort from your whole health care team, including your nephrologist, dialysis nurse, dialysis technician, dietitian, and social worker. The most important members of your health care team are you and your family. This publication by the National Institutes of Health (Publication No. 07-4666) will help you to understand hemodialysis, "How it Works," and your personal care and health during treatment. By learning about your treatment, you can work with your health care team to give yourself the best possible results, and you can lead a full, active life.

Food gives you energy and helps your body repair itself. Food is broken down in your stomach and intestines. Your blood picks up nutrients from the digested food and carries them to all your body cells. These cells take nutrients from your blood and put waste products back into the bloodstream. When your kidneys were healthy, they worked around the clock to remove wastes from your blood. The wastes left your body when you urinated. Other wastes are removed in bowel movements. Now that your kidneys have stopped working, hemodialysis removes wastes from your blood. But between dialysis sessions, wastes can build up in your blood and make you sick. You can reduce the amount of wastes by watching what you eat and drink. A good meal plan can improve your dialysis and your health. Your clinic has a dietitian to help you plan meals. A dietitian specializes in food and nutrition. A dietitian with special training in care for kidney health is called a renal dietitian. When you start hemodialysis, you must make many changes in your life. Watching the foods you eat will make you healthier. This publication by the National Institutes of Health (Publication No. 08-4274) will help you choose the right foods. Use this with a dietitian to help you learn how to eat right to feel right on hemodialysis.

With peritoneal dialysis (PD), you have some choices in treating advanced and permanent kidney failure. Since the 1980s, when PD first became a practical and widespread treatment for kidney failure, much has been learned about how to make PD more effective and minimize side effects. Since you don't have to schedule dialysis sessions at a center, PD gives you more control. You can give yourself treatments at home, at work, or on trips. But this independence makes it especially important that you work closely with your health care team: your nephrologist, dialysis nurse, dialysis technician, dietitian, and social worker. But the most important members of your health care team are you and your family. By learning about your treatment, you can work with your health care team to give yourself the best possible results, and you can lead a full, active life. This publication by the National Institutes of Health (Publication No. 06-4688) discusses Peritoneal Dialysis - "How it Works," "Preventing Issues," and your personal care and health during treatment.

If you have advanced and permanent kidney failure, kidney transplantation may be the treatment option that allows you to live much like you lived before your kidneys failed. Since the 1950s, when the first kidney transplants were performed, much has been learned about how to prevent rejection and minimize the side effects of medicines. But transplantation is not a cure; it's an ongoing treatment that requires you to take medicines for the rest of your life. And the wait for a donated kidney can be years long. A successful transplant takes a coordinated effort from your whole health care team, including your nephrologist, transplant surgeon, transplant coordinator, pharmacist, dietitian, and social worker. But the most important members of your health care team are you and your family. By learning about your treatment, you can work with your health care team to give yourself the best possible results, and you can lead a full, active life. This publication by the National Institutes of Health (Publication No. 06-4687) discusses Transplantation - "How it Works" and "The Process" from the Waiting List to Posttransplant Care.

Hepatitis C is a liver disease. Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. Inflammation is the painful, red swelling that results when tissues of the body become injured or infected. Inflammation can cause organs to not work properly. This publication by the National Institutes of Health (Publication No. 09-4229) provides information about the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments for Hepatitis C. Other types of hepatitis exist. The National Institutes of Health has also provided additional publications about Hepatitis A - "What I Need to Know About Hepatitis A" - Publication No. 09-4244 - and Hepatitis B - "What I Need to Know About Hepatitis B" - Publication No. 09-4228.

Constipation means different things to different people. You may have constipation if you have three or fewer bowel movements in a week or if stool is hard, dry, painful, or difficult to pass. Some people with constipation lack energy and feel full or bloated. Some people think they have constipation if they don't have a bowel movement every day. However, bowel habits are different for everyone. The foods you eat, how much you exercise, and other factors can affect your bowel habits. At one time or another, almost everyone gets constipated. In most cases, it lasts for only a short time and is not serious. When you understand what causes constipation, you can take steps to prevent it. This publication by the National Institutes of Health (Publication No. 09-4157) provides information on the causes and treatments for constipation.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder, meaning that the symptoms are caused by changes in how the GI tract works. Food is digested, or broken down, in the GI tract. IBS is not a disease. Symptoms can come and go repeatedly without signs of damage to the GI tract. The most common symptoms of IBS are abdominal pain or discomfort, often reported as cramping, along with diarrhea, constipation, or both. This publication by the National Institutes of Health (Publication No. 12-4686) discusses IBS, symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatments.

The impact of type 2 diabetes on Southeast Asian (SEA) communities in the United States-a group that includes Cambodians, Hmong, Laotians, and Vietnamese-is driven by cultural, historical, and logistical factors. Understanding these factors is a fi rst step in identifying potential interventions. Though there is great diversity within the SEA subgroup, its members are united by a strong sense of their respective communities and a reverence for local leaders. Effective programs to overcome barriers to type 2 diabetes prevention and control must capitalize on these strengths, while taking into account the unique requirements of this population. The purpose of this paper is to: 1. Increase awareness among health care providers, decision makers, and organizations serving Asian Americans of the risk for type 2 diabetes in SEAs and potential impacting factors. 2. Highlight data collection issues, barriers to care, and special health care needs, and introduce successful models in reaching Southeast Asian populations. 3. Identify resources available to organizations, government agencies, health care providers, and others who work with SEAs in the United States. This monograph discusses the following: The data on diabetes prevalence, rates of complications, and health care quality measures among SEAs are limited; Overweight as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes in SEAs-and Asian Americans in general-is underrecognized. The risk for type 2 diabetes increases at a lower body mass index for Asians than for other ethnic groups. Qualitative evidence from focus groups with Asian Americans indicates many Asians believe themselves to be at lower risk for type 2 diabetes because of smaller average body build; SEAs experience major obstacles to diabetes diagnosis and management, including inadequate access to culturally appropriate health care, lack of insurance coverage, and language barriers. For example, many SEAs are unaware of their federally mandated right to interpreter services and do not request these services; Low cultural acceptance of preventive health services among SEAs reduces opportunities for risk assessment, opportunistic testing, timely diabetes diagnosis, and interventions for diabetes prevention and management; Diagnosis and culturally appropriate treatment of concomitant mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are key in diabetes management; Mental health conditions such as PTSD (resulting from trauma and torture), anxiety, and depression are highly prevalent among SEAs and further complicate diabetes self-care; and Cultural competency among health care providers who treat SEAs is critical to successful interventions for diabetes prevention and control.

This guide (the National Institutes of Health Publication 11-7739) is designed to help health care professionals and health care organizations implement collaborative, multidisciplinary team care for adults and children with diabetes in a variety of settings. Collaborative teams that provide continuous, supportive, and effective care for people with diabetes throughout the course of their disease are a model for the prevention and management of chronic diseases. Well-implemented diabetes team care can be cost-effective and the preferred method of care delivery, particularly when services include health promotion and disease prevention, in addition to inten-sive clinical management. Team care is a key component of health care reform initiatives that incorporate an inte-grated health care delivery system, especially those for chronic disease prevention and management. Diabetes is a serious, common, and costly disease that affects 25.8 million Americans, or 8.3 percent of the U.S. population. About 90 to 95 percent of people with diabetes have type 2, which usually occurs in adults over age 45 but is increasingly occurring in younger age groups. Type 1 is usually diagnosed during childhood, although adults can also develop the disease. Some patients may have features of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, which further complicates disease treatment and management. In addition, at least 79 million U.S. adults have pre-diabetes, which places them at increased risk for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. The chronic complications of diabetes (cardiovascular disease, vision loss, kidney failure, nerve damage, and lower-extremity amputations) result in higher rates of disability, increased use of health care services, lost days from work, unem-ployment, decreased quality of life, and premature mortality. Acute complications can also result in lost days from school. To achieve the health benefits that modern science has made possible, the principal clinical features of diabetes-hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and hypertension-need to be prevented and managed within a system that provides continuous, proactive, planned, patient-centered, and population-based care. Primary care physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners all play important roles in the delivery of primary care for people with chronic diseases in the United States. To reduce the risk of microvascular complications, this care needs to include regular assessment of the eyes, kidneys, teeth and mouth, and lower extremities in people with diabetes. System constraints, however, can make it difficult for primary care providers to carry out all of these essential elements of comprehensive diabetes care. Team care can minimize patients' health risks by assessment, intervention, and surveillance to identify problems early and initiate timely treatment. Increased use of effective behavioral interventions to lower the risk of diabetes and treatments to improve glycemic control and cardiovascular risk profiles can prevent or delay progression to kidney failure, vision loss, nerve damage, lower-extremity amputation, and cardiovascular disease. Patients' participation in treatment decisions, personal selection of behavioral goals, patient education and training, and active self-management can improve diabetes control. This in turn leads to increased patient satisfaction with care, better quality of life, improved health outcomes, and ultimately, lower health care costs. Collaborative teams vary according to patients' needs, patient load, organizational constraints, resources, clinical setting, geographic location, and professional skills. It is essential that a key person coordinate the team effort. The resources and support of community partners such as school nurses, community health workers, trained peer leaders, and others can augment clinical care teams.

This booklet (the National Institutes of Health Publication 11-5492) presents four key steps to help you manage your diabetes and live a long and active life. These steps include: Step 1: Learn about diabetes; Step 2: Know your diabetes ABCs; Step 3: Manage your diabetes; and Step 4: Get routine care to avoid healthcare problems. Diabetes is a serious disease. It affects almost every part of your body. That is why a health care team can help you take care of your diabetes; this team includes: doctor, dentist, diabetes educator, dietitian, eye doctor, foot doctor, mental health counselor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, social worker friends and family. You are the most important member of the team.

These Guiding Principles for Diabetes Care: For Health Care Professionals provide an overview of the key elements of early and intensive clinical diabetes care and prevention. They form the basis of the National Diabetes Education Program's (NDEP's) public and professional awareness programs. The principles are based on the best level of evidence available, and key sources are noted. The NDEP adopts guidelines developed by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), and many have been incorporated into these guiding principles. Numerous other guidelines are available and some are noted in this document. It is essential that in practice, health care professionals focus on the similarities rather than the differences in diabetes-related guidelines. This document also provides links to supporting resources and further information. As the proportion of both minority populations and people aged 60 and older increases in the United States, and the obesity epidemic continues, people with diabetes are becoming a larger part of the practices of family physicians and other primary care clinicians. Health care professionals involved in new or expanding diabetes care practices can use these guiding principles to ensure that they provide essential components of comprehensive diabetes care. In addition, health care payers, managed care organizations, and large employers can use this information to establish diabetes care principles and to assure quality diabetes care and treatment options in health plans. NDEP encourages people with or at risk for diabetes and their families to participate actively with their health care team to plan and implement their care. While these principles serve as a guide for diabetes prevention and management, each person and his or her health care team should determine a specific prevention or management plan. Team care is essential for effective diabetes prevention and management. Team structure is best determined by the practice setting. Teams should be led by the most appropriate health care professional, and may include primary care physicians, diabetes educators, endocrinologists, dietitians, nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, physician assistants, psychologists, dental professionals, exercise professionals, social workers, specialists for care of the eye, foot, heart, and kidney, and others as necessary. Many of these team members also may be certified diabetes educators. Trained lay educators such as "promotores" and community health workers can be effective team members. Other elements of importance to the delivery of diabetes care, in addition to team care, such as creating a patient registry, assessing practice needs, implementing processes of care, connecting to community resources, and evaluating outcomes are presented in detail on www.BetterDiabetesCare.nih.gov. This website provides tools and resources to help health care professionals implement systems changes. Early identification and management of pre-diabetes can delay or prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. In people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, ongoing comprehensive diabetes care, including the ABCs of diabetes (A1C for glucose, Blood pressure, and Cholesterol), can prevent or control diabetes-related microvascular and macrovascular complications. With proper medical management, education, self-care, and attention to behavior, social, and environmental factors, people with diabetes and pre-diabetes can live long, active, and productive lives.

National Hospital Discharge Survey Data indicate that 86,000 people with diabetes in the United States underwent one or more lower-extremity amputations in 1996. Diabetes is the leading cause of amputation of the lower limbs. Yet it is clear that as many as half of these amputations might be prevented through simple but effective foot care practices. The 1993 landmark study, the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, conclusively showed that keeping blood glucose, as measured by hemoglobin A1c, as close to normal as possible significantly slows the onset and progression of diabetic nerve and vascular complications, which can lead to lower extremity amputations. People who have diabetes are vulnerable to nerve and vascular damage that can result in loss of protective sensation in the feet, poor circulation, and poor healing of foot ulcers. All of these conditions contribute to the high amputation rate in people with diabetes. The absence of nerve and vascular symptoms, however, does not mean that a patient's feet are not at risk. Risk of ulceration cannot be assessed without careful examination of the patient's bare feet. Early identification of foot problems and early intervention to prevent problems from worsening can avert many amputations. Good foot care, therefore, is an essential part of diabetes management - for patients as well as for health care providers. This kit is designed for primary care and other health care providers who counsel people with diabetes about preventive health care practices, particularly foot care. "Feet Can Last a Lifetime" is designed to help you implement four basic steps for preventive foot care in your practice: Early identification of the high risk diabetic foot, Early diagnosis of foot problems, Early intervention to prevent further deterioration that may lead to amputation, and Patient education for proper care of the feet and footwear.

Diabetes prevention is proven, possible, and powerful. Studies show that people at high risk for diabetes can prevent or delay the onset of the disease by losing 5 to 7 percent of their weight, if they are overweight-that's 10 to 14 pounds for a 200-pound person. Two keys to success: Get at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity five days a week and eat a variety of foods that are low in fat and reduce the number of calories you eat per day. In other words, you don't have to knock yourself out to prevent diabetes. Have you wondered or possibly been told that you are at risk for developing diabetes or that you have pre-diabetes? To find out more about what things put you at risk, go to page 13 and read the "Are You At-Risk Check List" section. If you haven't already done so, be sure to talk with your health care team about your risk and whether you should be tested.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) is committed to supporting and promoting research in urologic disease as part of its mission to make important medical discoveries that improve health and save lives. Central to this is the Institute's focus on disorders of the prostate and the contribution of prostate biology to overall genitourinary tract and pelvic floor physiology. The primary emphasis of the NIDDK's prostate research programs has traditionally been on benign disease. Principal among these are benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), along with the often associated lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), and prostatitis, especially chronic non-bacterial prostatitis (referred to as chronic pros-tatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome CP/CPPS]). These disorders are common, chronic, and costly; they are found in all races and ethnic groups, and can affect men of all ages. In the case of BPH, symptoms increase in prevalence and severity as men age with nearly 50 percent of men experiencing LUTS by their sixth decade of life. In addition, benign prostate diseases result in significant morbidity and decreased quality of life and produce an enormous economic burden to patients and the nation from both direct health care costs and indirect costs, such as lost productivity. Despite years of research, many fundamental questions remain unanswered regarding the underlying causes of benign prostate disorders and the factors associated with disease development and progression. These long-standing, intractable questions concerning disease pathology and the need for increased progress in developing prevention and clinical care measures prompted the NIDDK to examine the state-of-the science and begin the process of developing a new vision to guide future research. To initiate this, the NIDDK convened an expert panel of clinical and basic scientists and epidemiologists in Chicago, Illinois, in the summer of 2006. This group reviewed the state of benign prostate research and the current priorities of the community and the NIDDK's prostate programs. Efforts were focused primarily on BPH/LUTS and CP/CPPS due to their relevance to the NIDDK mission. All those attending agreed that current funding and scientific trends suggested the field was in need of improved vitality and a renewed research focus. A number of the Chicago, Illinois participants became the nucleus of the NIDDK's Prostate Research Planning Committee. The present NIDDK Prostate Research Strategic Plan was developed directly through this collaborative effort and reflects the dedication and hard work of the many listed contributors. The strategic plan is organized into major sections representing four broad areas of research judged as critical for advancing the field: I. Basic Science; II. Epidemiology/Population-Based Studies; III. Translational Research; and IV. Clinical Sciences. This work serves as a guide for understanding past accomplishments and the current state of benign prostate research. More importantly, it provides research priorities and recommendations intended to focus and advance each scientific topic/area of research. In addition, each major section ends with a list of consensus high-priority recommendations. The Executive Summary serves as an overview of the plan's strategic vision and highlights key findings and recommendations. The NIDDK Prostate Research Strategic Plan is designed to be read by a broad audience of researchers, clinicians, advocacy groups, representatives from funding entities and, through our inclusion of lay/educational summaries, the patient community. The NIDDK will use recommendations and insights in this work to assist in developing future efforts addressing disease cause, prevention, and treatment. We hope it will also guide the research community and other health care professionals in addressing our common goal of improved care for patients suffering from benign disorders of the prostate.

Diseases and conditions affecting the bladder and associated structures of the lower urinary tract are a leading cause of urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, and kidney failure, and they often contribute to poor quality of life. It has been estimated that 35 million Americans suffer from bladder disease and most have chronic conditions.Benjamin Franklin documented the poor quality of life for people with bladder problems in 1752. He invented the first flexible urethral catheter, made of silver and covered with gut, to help his brother empty his bladder. Franklin's brother suffered from bladder outlet obstruction caused by bladder stones. Years later, Franklin, who suffered from the same problem, was forced to catheterize himself intermittently with his own invention. Although technology now provides better instrumentation, medical science has not solved many cases of urinary retention-or other problems related to the bladder-and intermittent catheterization much as Franklin described is still used. Bladder diseases and problems affect people of all ages, races, and ethnic groups. Strides have been taken to improve diagnosis, management, and treatment of bladder diseases, but many primary questions about bladder formation, function, and disease remain. The Bladder Research Progress Review Group (BRPRG) was formed by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to examine the state of bladder research in the United States and to develop a plan for future research in this area. The members of the BRPRG are a multidisciplinary group of recognized experts in bladder research. Their task was a complex one because many diseases and conditions of the urinary tract such as incontinence, obstruction, interstitial cystitis, and spina bifida affect the bladder's structure and function. Bladder diseases such as bladder cancer or urinary tract infections affect specific tissues such as bladder epithelium; thus, research on these tissues will contribute directly to overall progress in cancer and infectious diseases research and not to research on bladder alone. From early 2000 to July 2001, members of the BRPRG had discussions and intensive meetings to examine all areas of bladder-related problems categorized by diseases and by organ or tissue in an attempt to develop a strategic bladder research plan. This plan is provided in this document. Overwhelmingly, the BRPRG has concluded that bladder research in the United States is inadequate, fraught with a number of impediments, and lags behind research in other areas that affect the health of Americans to a similar degree. The extent of health problems associated with the bladder emphasizes the urgent need to expand rapidly bladder health-related research not only to diagnose, manage, and treat bladder diseases, but also to discover the risk and preventive factors that will ultimately improve overall health. Recent discoveries and technological advances in biomedical science have provided a unique opportunity to make rapid and important advances in bladder research that might improve diagnosis, management, and prevention of bladder problems. This report outlines future critical research on the basic science of the lower urinary tract and clinical studies of bladder diseases and conditions. It also makes specific recommendations for focused inclusion of biotechnologies that offer opportunities for bladder research. In addition, the report describes the kinds of programs that will provide a pipeline of new researchers through training, new collaborations, and infrastructure to support this work. The potential consequences of rapid progress in bladder research could save many children, women, and men from the physical and emotional consequences of bladder diseases and conditions.

The National Institutes of Health Publication 11-6513, "What I Need to Know About Bowel Control," provides background on what Bowel Control means, what it means to have issues, and receiving the proper treatment for any issues you may have. Bowel control means you are able to hold a bowel movement until you reach a bathroom. You may have a bowel control problem if you: have trouble holding a bowel movement, have solid or liquid stool leak when you don't expect it, find streaks of stool on your underwear Bowel control problems-also called fecal incontinence-can be upsetting and embarrassing. Most people with bowel control problems feel ashamed and try to hide the problem. They may not want to leave the house for fear of losing bowel control in public. They may withdraw from friends and family. Bowel control problems are often caused by a medical issue. If you have a bowel control problem, don't be afraid to talk with your health care provider about it. Your health care provider may be able to help. People of any age can have a bowel control problem. Bowel control problems aren't always a part of aging, but they are more common among older adults. Bowel control problems affect about 18 million U.S. adults-one out of every 12 people. Bowel control problems don't have to be a part of aging, but they are more common among older adults. Bowel control problems are often caused by a medical issue that can be treated. Don't be afraid to talk with your health care provider about your bowel control problem. Diet changes, medicines, bowel training, or surgery may help. You can take steps to cope with your bowel control problem.

This National Institutes of Health Publication 11-5166, "What I Need to Know About Cirrhosis," provides information about Cirrhosis and liver issues - knowing how to prevent issues, knowing the symptoms of issues and knowing how to receive proper treatment allowing you to lead a full, healthy life. Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver. Scar tissue forms because of injury or long-term disease. Scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue and blocks the normal flow of blood through the liver. A healthy liver: makes proteins, helps fight infections, cleans the blood, helps digest food, and stores a form of sugar that your body uses for energy. A liver with too much scar tissue cannot work properly. You cannot live without a liver that works. But early treatment can control symptoms and keep cirrhosis from getting worse.

This National Institutes of Health Publication 12-5774, "What I Need to Know About Crohn's Disease," provides information on Crohn's disease from understanding the symptoms to obtaining the proper treatment so that you can lead a full, healthy life. Crohn's disease is a disease that causes inflammation, or swelling, and irritation of any part of the digestive tract-also called the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The part most commonly affected is the end part of the small intestine, called the ileum. Crohn's disease is one of two main forms of diseases of the GI tract named inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The other form, called ulcerative colitis, affects the large intestine, which includes the colon and the rectum. With Crohn's disease, chronic-or long lasting- inflammation may cause scar tissue to form in the lining of the intestine. When scar tissue builds up, the passage can become narrow, causing food and stool to move through the GI tract more slowly. There are many options for treating Crohn's disease including the proper medicines, diet and nutrition. Most people with Crohn's disease are able to work, raise families, and live full lives.

This National Institutes of Health Publication 11-5755, "What I Need to Know About Celiac Disease," provides information from understanding what Celiac Disease is, what the symptoms are, and obtaining the proper treatment and proper nutrition for Celiac Disease. Celiac disease is an immune disease in which people can't eat gluten because it will damage their small intestine. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. Gluten may also be used in products such as vitamin and nutrient supplements, lip balms, and some medicines. Other names for celiac disease are celiac sprue and gluten intolerance. Your body's natural defense system, called the immune system, keeps you healthy by fighting against things that can make you sick, such as bacteria and viruses. When people with celiac disease eat gluten their body's immune system reacts to the gluten by attacking the lining of the small intestine. The immune system's reaction to gluten damages small, fingerlike growths called villi. When the villi are damaged, the body cannot get the nutrients it needs.

The National Institutes of Health Publication 08-4349, "Prevent Diabetes Problems: Keep Your Diabetes Under Control," addresses diabetes and how you can prevent or slow down related health problems. You may have one or more diabetes problems or none at all. If you get diabetes when you are young, you may not have diabetes problems for many years. If you find out you have diabetes as an adult, you may already have diabetes problems. Either way, keeping your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol under control can prevent diabetes problems. Too much glucose in the blood for a long time can cause diabetes problems. This high blood glucose, also called blood sugar, can damage many parts of the body, such as the heart, blood vessels, eyes, and kidneys. Heart and blood vessel disease can lead to heart attacks and strokes. You can do a lot to prevent or slow down diabetes problems by keeping your blood glucose levels on target and by learning what you can do to take care of yourself. This Publication is one of seven in a series that can help you learn more about how to prevent diabetes problems. These include: "Keep Your Diabetes Under Control," "Keep Your Heart and Blood Vessels Healthy," "Keep Your Kidneys Healthy," "Keep Your Eyes Healthy," "Keep Your Feet and Skin Healthy," "Keep Your Nervous System Healthy," and "Keep Your Mouth Healthy."

The National Institutes of Health Publication 09-4283, "Prevent Diabetes Problems: Keep Your Heart and Blood Vessels Healthy," addresses diabetes and how you can prevent or slow down related health problems. Too much glucose in the blood for a long time can cause diabetes problems. This high blood glucose, also called blood sugar, can damage many parts of the body, such as the heart, blood vessels, eyes, and kidneys. Heart and blood vessel disease can lead to heart attacks and strokes, the leading causes of death for people with diabetes. You can do a lot to prevent or slow down diabetes problems. This booklet is about heart and blood vessel problems caused by diabetes. You will learn the things you can do each day and during each year to stay healthy and prevent diabetes problems. This Publication is one of seven in a series that can help you learn more about how to prevent diabetes problems. These include: "Keep Your Diabetes Under Control," "Keep Your Heart and Blood Vessels Healthy," "Keep Your Kidneys Healthy," "Keep Your Eyes Healthy," "Keep Your Feet and Skin Healthy," "Keep Your Nervous System Healthy," and "Keep Your Mouth Healthy."

The National Institutes of Health Publication 09-4279, "Prevent Diabetes Problems: Keep Your Eyes Healthy," addresses diabetes and how you can prevent or slow down related health problems. Too much glucose in the blood for a long time can cause diabetes problems. This high blood glucose, also called blood sugar, can damage many parts of the body, such as the heart, blood vessels, eyes, and kidneys. Heart and blood vessel disease can lead to heart attacks and strokes. You can do a lot to prevent or slow down diabetes problems. This booklet is about eye problems caused by diabetes. You will learn the things you can do each day and during each year to stay healthy and prevent diabetes problems. This Publication is one of seven in a series that can help you learn more about how to prevent diabetes problems. These include: "Keep Your Diabetes Under Control," "Keep Your Heart and Blood Vessels Healthy," "Keep Your Kidneys Healthy," "Keep Your Eyes Healthy," "Keep Your Feet and Skin Healthy," "Keep Your Nervous System Healthy," and "Keep Your Mouth Healthy."

The National Institutes of Health Publication 10-4281, "Prevent Diabetes Problems: Keep Your Kidneys Healthy," addresses diabetes and how you can prevent or slow down related health problems. Too much glucose in the blood for a long time can cause diabetes problems. This high blood glucose, also called blood sugar, can damage many parts of the body, such as the heart, blood vessels, eyes, and kidneys. Heart and blood vessel disease can lead to heart attacks and strokes. You can do a lot to prevent or slow down diabetes problems. This booklet is about kidney health and diabetes. You will learn the things you can do each day to stay healthy and prevent diabetes problems. This Publication is one of seven in a series that can help you learn more about how to prevent diabetes problems. These include: "Keep Your Diabetes Under Control," "Keep Your Heart and Blood Vessels Healthy," "Keep Your Kidneys Healthy," "Keep Your Eyes Healthy," "Keep Your Feet and Skin Healthy," "Keep Your Nervous System Healthy," and "Keep Your Mouth Healthy."

The National Institutes of Health Publication 08-4282, "Prevent Diabetes Problems: Keep Your Feet and Skin Healthy," addresses diabetes and how you can prevent or slow down related health problems. Too much glucose in the blood for a long time can cause diabetes problems. This high blood glucose, also called blood sugar, can damage many parts of the body, such as the heart, blood vessels, eyes, and kidneys. Heart and blood vessel disease can lead to heart attacks and strokes. You can do a lot to prevent or slow down diabetes problems. This booklet is about feet and skin problems caused by diabetes. You will learn the things you can do each day and during each year to stay healthy and prevent diabetes problems. This Publication is one of seven in a series that can help you learn more about how to prevent diabetes problems. These include: "Keep Your Diabetes Under Control," "Keep Your Heart and Blood Vessels Healthy," "Keep Your Kidneys Healthy," "Keep Your Eyes Healthy," "Keep Your Feet and Skin Healthy," "Keep Your Nervous System Healthy," and "Keep Your Mouth Healthy."

The National Institutes of Health Publication 08-4284, "Prevent Diabetes Problems: Keep Your Nervous System Healthy," addresses diabetes and how you can prevent or slow down related health problems. Too much glucose in the blood for a long time can cause diabetes problems. This high blood glucose, also called blood sugar, can damage many parts of the body, such as the heart, blood vessels, eyes, and kidneys. Heart and blood vessel disease can lead to heart attacks and strokes. You can do a lot to prevent or slow down diabetes problems. This booklet is about nerve problems that can be caused by diabetes. You will learn the things you can do each day and during each year to stay healthy and prevent diabetes problems. This Publication is one of seven in a series that can help you learn more about how to prevent diabetes problems. These include: "Keep Your Diabetes Under Control," "Keep Your Heart and Blood Vessels Healthy," "Keep Your Kidneys Healthy," "Keep Your Eyes Healthy," "Keep Your Feet and Skin Healthy," "Keep Your Nervous System Healthy," and "Keep Your Mouth Healthy."