Diabetes, or diabetes mellitus, is a chronic condition where your blood sugar(or blood glucose) is too high. In order to survive, our blood caries glucose to the rest of our body to supply energy; however, having too much blood glucose in you blood system is problematic.  Normally, your body regulates this process.
There are 16 million diabetics in the United States. According to the American Diabetes Association, there are an estimated 5.7 million people (almost 25% of those with diabetes in the United States) who are unaware they have the disease.
Blood glucose levels are controlled by many factors, but one very critical factor is the hormone insulin made in the beta cells of the pancreas. Diabetes mellitus is a group of diseases caused when insulin is not properly being produced or it is not acting properly.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes mellitus, or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a condition where insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas stop working leading to a deficiency of insulin. About 5% to 10% of the population has this form of diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes mellitus, or insulin-resistant diabetes, occurs when a body becomes resistant to insulin.¬† In this scenario, our cells do not respond to insulin in the way that was intended.¬† There are insulin receptors in¬†cell membranes that “open the door” to allow glucose in for us to use as fuel. In additon, insulin signals a protein called a glucose transporter whose function is to carry the glucose into the cell. When this process of allowing and transporting glucose into cells stops working properly, you body is becoming insulin resistance. 90%¬† to 95% of all diabetics suffer from this type of diabetes.
How is this disease treated?
While there is no cure, there are affective treatments that help manage this condition.  A diabetic will usually inject insulin into their body by a syringe or the use of an insulin pump. If you believe you or someone you know is suffering from this disease, you should consult a doctor immediately. A diabetic needs to  educate themselves on proper diet, exercise, and monitoring of their blood glucose level.  One thing to note: there is a strong correlation for those who have type 2 diabetes to obesity. Losing weight is one of the first things that helps those diagnosed with this condition.
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
While symptoms of diabetes are sometimes noticeable, diabetes can also come without any clear signs at all.   There are an estimated 5.7 million people (almost 25% of those with diabetes in the United States) who are unaware they have the disease.The National Institute of Health states that the the symptoms of diabetes often are not there with the type 2 version of diabetes.
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What are the causes of Diabetes?
HealthActually.com has a sister site that discusses the cause of diabetes.
http://www.whatcausesdiabetes.net/
Non-invasive Methods for Supplying Insulin to Diabetes Patients
(Article from medcarehealth.com) According to some recent findings in the field of medicine, researchers are of the view that there are some effective non invasive methods to deliver insulin to the diabetics such as oral insulin pills, transdermal ultrasonic therapy, nanotechnology-based therapy and many more.
For more on the article, go here:
Researchers Create Insulin-Producing Cells from Another Adult Cell – Breakthrough leads to Exciting Possibilities for New Cures
(Article from medcarehealth.com) Ou August 27,2008 Howard Hughes Medical Institute researchers posted the results of a startling new experiment: using mice, they converted adult pancreatic cells into insulin-producing beta cells. Although early in the process, this experiment opens the door for new cures for a variety of illnesses.  A diabetic, for example, could have their own cells transformed to help them produce insulin. The study was published on the online journal, Nature.
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Resource:
The American Diabetes Association is a great source of information:
www.diabetes.org/