Diabetes is a serious, life-long disease. It cannot be cured, but careful control of blood sugar can prevent or delay the complications of this disease. A great deal of research is underway to find out exactly what causes diabetes and how to prevent it. Diabetes is a disease that prevents the body from properly converting foods into the energy needed for daily activity. ...

The rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes globally and its associated morbidity and mortality call for early preventive screening and case finding of high-risk individuals. At first presentation, 10% to 12% of cases have retinopathy and 5% have neuropathy, suggesting that diabetes was present long before diagnosis. Hypertension and accelerated atherosclerosis may also precede the diagnosis of frank diabetes by many years. Surveys indicate that diabetes is often underdiagnosed, ...

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates the level of glucose, a simple sugar that provides energy, in the blood. The human body requires a steady amount of glucose throughout the day, and that glucose comes from the foods we eat. Obviously, though, we don't spend our entire day eating a bit of food at a time to maintain a steady stream of glucose. This is where insulin comes into play. ...

Certain herbal supplements (botanicals) can be used as part of the diet to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Natural medicine cannot cure Type 1 diabetes but it may help by making the body more receptive to insulin injection. It is very important to work closely with your physician who prescribes the insulin, before using any of the herbal supplements. Changes that make the body more receptive to insulin could also require certain changes in the dosage that must be addressed by the medical professional. ...