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Four hundred million people around the world currently have diabetes, a chronic metabolic disorder with devastating long-term consequences. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, amputations, and blindness in adults and is a major risk factor for stroke, heart disease, and birth defects. The disease shortens life expectancy by 15 years, and its treatment costs over 1,000 Million Dollars (1 Billion) each year.
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by abnormalities in carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism. Hyperglycemia, a condition that results from defects in insulin secretion or insulin action is the result of this onset. There are four clinical classifications of diabetes--type 1, type 2, gestational, and other specific types. Type 1 diabetes is an immune-mediated condition. Its onset is usually abrupt and occurs before age 30.
Destruction of the beta-cells of the pancreas by the immune system results in a patient's dependence on insulin for survival. Other specific types of diabetes affect the smallest number of patients with the disease. These types result from hormonal syndromes, certain diseases of the pancreas, exposure to drugs, pregnancy, rare conditions of insulin receptors, and other genetic defects.
Type 2 diabetes represents about 90% of all known cases of diabetes in the U.S. Onset of the disease usually occurs after 30 years of age and is associated with defects in both insulin action (insulin resistance) and insulin secretion. While patients with type 2 diabetes have the ability to produce insulin, the insulin levels are insufficient to overcome insulin resistance. Incidence of type 2 diabetes increases with age and degree of obesity.
Many people are controlling their Diabetes naturally without pharmaceutical drugs. Along with diet and exercise, nutritional supplements can help you get regulated and feeling better.
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