However, this isn't always a good thing. The same qualities that make seeking health information on the web so easy can also create dangers. After all, anyone can put up a website. On their site, they can say anything they want. They may offer inaccurate or misleading information - and their motivations for doing so can range from simple ignorance to a desire to take advantage of others.
So whenever you're surfing the net for news about type II diabetes or other health issues, use caution. You'll want the information you're getting to be both accurate and safe.
Perhaps the most important thing to remember (even in the case of truly useful sites) is that the Internet can only provide health information. It can never provide diagnoses or treatment! Even if a site is managed by a physician, it's no substitute for real care from your doctor or other qualified health care provider. In fact, one sign of a responsibly managed health site is a prominently posted disclaimer.
This doesn't mean you shouldn't use the Internet to learn about your condition. On the contrary, knowledge can be wonderfully empowering, especially when you're dealing with condition such as type II diabetes where so much of your progress is "up to you". Just make sure that before you take action on anything you've read, you've checked it out with your health care provider.
When surfing for health sites, be cynical. What's the source of the information? For example, if you're at the Medscape site or the American Diabetes Association site, you know the source is reputable.
Even on small sites run by average citizens (such as this topic area!) authors and contributors need to be identified. Look for a contact name, links to the author or Webmaster, and possibly even a contact number - especially when dealing with a purported organization.
The site should be professionally managed. When providing hard facts, authors should identify sources. After all, how else can you know that what you're reading isn't simply made up? Relevant copyright information should be shown as well. If the information is clinical or otherwise time-sensitive, check for dates - when it was posted and updated. The field of medicine and health is constantly changing. Information that was accurate 6 months ago could be totally wrong today.
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