Diabetes is a condition that attacks the body's natural ability to breakdown sugar, which can lead to a variety of unpleasant conditions and complications due to a buildup of glucose in the body. The most notable condition is the body's failure to properly produce the compound called insulin. Other health issues associated with this glucose buildup include nerve damage, which could lead to more life threatening ailments such as a rupturing of vital organs in the body.

As you've probably already gathered, diabetes is a deadly disease. Even worse, medical studies clearly show that it is also one of the most difficult medical conditions to avoid. In fact, almost 10% of all consumers over the age of 20 within the United States are currently suffering from symptoms as a result of diabetes. This percentage equates to a rather alarming 21 million individuals that are suffering from diabetic conditions.

Although there is currently no known or published cure for diabetes, there are medical studies taking place with the hopes of isolating a cure. These studies include the following:

- A manipulation of the genetic makeup of our cells

- The artificial development of insulin producing cells called Islet cells

- Pancreas rehabilitation or transplant based on the fact that the pancreas is the body's internal organ responsible for producing insulin

Meanwhile, for the many people currently inflicted with diabetes, treatment is carried out as quickly as possible while the disease is still in its infancy or early stages. In order to do this a thorough understanding of the symptoms of diabetes is required. The major symptoms of an individual suffering from diabetes include fatigue, rapid weight loss, a constant hunger, excessive thirst and the frequent need to urinate.

Individuals experiencing many or all of these symptoms should seek out medical advice from a doctor in order to determine if they may have contracted diabetes. This is especially true if there is a history of diabetes that runs in the family.