What is Diabetes? Diabetes is a condition where there is too much glucose in the blood. Glucose is a certain type of sugar that your body's cells use for energy. Over time, these high levels of glucose can affect the diabetic patient's eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart. With proper management, people with diabetes can live healthy, happy lives. Diabetes Facts: Diabetes affects approximately 16 million people in the United States (6% of the population). Of these 16 million diabetics, only 11 million have been diagnosed with the disease. Over 2,000 people are diagnosed with diabetes every day. Due to a condition known as Diabetic Retinopathy, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness among working age adults in the united States. Approximately 40,000 people go blind every year from this disease. People with diabetes are 25 times more likely to go blind than people without diabetes. Direct health care expenditures for diabetes and diabetes-related complications exceed $40 billion. More detailed information on diabetes can be found at the following sites: American Diabetes Association Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases < Disease Information
		© 2002-2003 Inoveon Corporation