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Figure 1: Until recently individuals suffering from type II Diabetes needed insulin injections to control low blood sugar levels (Gould, P. 2001).Introduction: A leading cause of death and disability in the United States is Diabetes Mellitus. Of the estimated sixteen million Americans with diabetes approximately five million have yet to be diagnosed. Diabetes, if untreated, can lead to cardiovascular disease, blindness, kidney disease and failure, and frequent infections (diabetes mellitus, in Encyclopedia Britannica Online 2001).
Current research to uncover the mysteries of diabetes mellitus focuses on identifying individual susceptibility to diabetes, examining metabolic conditions specific to the disorder, and searching for potential treatments and therapies for those suffering from diabetes. This document describes some of this research. Potential implications of recent findings for all those affected by diabetes mellitus are discussed.