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Overview of Diabetes Complications What complications are linked to diabetes? Complications linked to diabetes may include: Heart disease. This is often caused by an extra buildup of plaque on the inner wall of a blood vessel (atherosclerosis). The plaque buildup limits blood

Diabetic Kidney Disease (Diabetic Nephropathy) What is diabetic kidney disease? Diabetic kidney disease is kidney disease that is due to diabetes. It is also called diabetic nephropathy. Nephropathy means your kidneys aren't working normally. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are the

Appendicitis What is appendicitis? Appendicitis is a medical emergency. It happens when your appendix becomes sore, swollen, and diseased. The appendix is a thin tube that is joined to the large intestine. It sits in the lower right part of your belly (abdomen). The appendix is a

The Digestive System: An Overview What is digestion? Food and drink must be changed into smaller molecules of nutrients to be absorbed into the blood and carried to cells throughout the body. Digestion is the process by which food and liquid are broken down into smaller parts

Inguinal Hernia What is an inguinal hernia? An inguinal hernia occurs when part of your intestine pushes through a weak spot in your lower belly (abdominal) wall. This area is called the groin. The hernia creates a lump in your groin. Over time, the hernia may get bigger. Most

Conjunctivitis in Children What is conjunctivitis in children? Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye. The conjunctiva is the membrane that lines the inside of the eyelids and covers the eye. Conjunctivitis is also known as “pink eye” because the eye

Blocked Tear Duct (Dacryostenosis) in Children What is a blocked tear duct in children? A blocked tear duct is called dacryostenosis. It may also be called a congenital lacrimal duct obstruction. Congenital means that your child is born with it. Tears help clean and lubricate

Refractive Errors in Children What is normal vision? To understand how certain problems can affect your child's vision, it’s important to know how normal vision happens. For children with normal vision, the following things occur in this order: Light enters the eye through the

Cataracts in Children What are cataracts in children? A cataract is a clouding of the eye's lens. The lens is normally clear (transparent). Cataracts keep light rays from passing through the lens and focusing on the retina. The retina is the thin layer of nerve tissue that lines

Birth Defects in Children What is a birth defect in a child? A birth defect (congenital anomaly) is a health problem or abnormal physical change that is present when a baby is born. Birth defects can be very mild, where the baby looks and acts like any other baby. Or birth