Diabetes is a Greek work, meaning to "siphon". Mellitus, a Latin word, relates to a word meaning, "honey" or sweet tasting. Due to the high sugar content and the lack of earlier testing methodologies, testing the urine did give an indication that the person had sugar diabetes. "Information written on ancient papyrus describes as a disease that caused a person to melt into the lions and the resulting urine to attract ants (because of the sugar content). " The name itself indicates the loss of valuable fluids.
             Diabetes is widely recognized as one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. "According to death certificates data, diabetes contributed to the deaths of more than 193,140 persons in 1996." It is associated with long-term complications that affect every major part of the body. It contributes to blindness, heart disease, strokes, kidney failure, amputation, and nerve damage. Uncontrolled diabetes can complicate pregnancy and birth defects are more common in babies born to women with diabetes.
             "Diabetes cost the United States $98 billion dollars in 1997. Indirect costs, including disability payments, time lost from work and premature deaths, totaled $54 billion; medical costs for diabetes care, medical care including hospitalizations and treatment supplies, totaled $44 billion.
             Diabetes mellitus, a disease in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin, which is a hormone that helps the body tissues, absorb glucose (sugar) so it can be used as a source of energy. Diabetes occurs when a person's body does not make enough insulin or can't use insulin properly.
             The food that we eat is broken down into glucose, to form the sugar in the blood. Glucose is the main source of fuel for the body. After digestion, glucose passes into the bloodstream, where cells for growth and energy use it. For glucose to enter into cells, ins...