This damage can cause numbness and pain in the hands and feet. Neuropathy in combination with poor circulation can result in serious diabetic foot ulcers and leg infections that may require amputation . Bacterial infections of the foot are common and can be life threatening. Diabetes is not contagious and poses no risk to others. It does tend to run in families.
Treatment depends on the type of diabetes that is present.
A person with type 1 diabetes generally needs insulin injections or shots. The insulin shots replace the insulin that is not produced by the pancreas. A proper diet is also important. Gestational diabetes is also usually treated with diet and insulin injections as needed. The most effective treatment available for type 2 diabetes is weight loss .