The American Diabetes Association estimates that diabetes accounts for over 100,000 deaths, 54,000 amputations, and over 20,000 cases of blindness each year. Blindness is twenty-five times more common among diabetic patients when compared to those without diabetes. If these current trends should continue, then by the year 2010 diabetes will exceed both heart disease and cancer as the leading cause of death in America.

Diabetics tend to have a high level of blood glucose. Blood sugar level is regulated by insulin, which releases it to carbohydrate consumption. Insulin causes the cells of the body to absorb glucose from the blood. The glucose is then used as fuel for cellular functions.

Traditional diagnostic standards for diabetes have been plasma glucose levels greater than 140 milligrams on 2 occasions as well as plasma glucose greater than 200 milligrams following a 75 gram glucose load. Even more recently, the American Diabetes Association lowered the criteria for a diabetic diagnosis to plasma glucose levels equal to or greater than 126 milligrams. Plasma levels outside the normal limit will need further testing. This is done usually by repeating the plasma glucose check and initiating an oral glucose tolerance test if it is needed.

The many symptoms of diabetes include increased urination, increased thirst and hunger, sudden drastic weight loss, blurred vision, very slow healing of wounds, dry and itchy skin, constantly repeated infections, sudden fatigue and headaches. With respect to diabetes, these symptoms can also be caused by many other factors. It is highly encouraged that anyone with symptoms related to the ones mentioned above should be tested as soon as possible.