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Diabetes (diabetes mellitus) is a chronic, degenerative disease caused by insulin deficiencies due to the body being incapable of producing normal insulin levels, or insulin resistance, a condition in which the cells of the body resist insulin`s attempts at regulating blood sugar levels. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas to metabolize glucose, a form of sugar that is one of the primary sources of cells` energy supply. Whether diabetes is caused by insulin resistance or a lack of insulin, the end result in the same: the body is unable to transport enough glucose from the bloodstream into the cells, especially after meals, when blood sugar levels rise as a natural consequence of digestion.

Normally, blood sugar levels in the body are maintained by the body`s self-regulating mechanisms, known as homeostasis. A rise in blood glucose after eating is supposed to stimulate production of the hormone insulin in the pancreas, and the insulin released into the bloodstream should keep blood sugar levels within a safe and usable range. But when the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas are not functioning normally, glucose levels remain high. If this situation becomes chronic, the stage is set for diabetes to occur.

Diabetes affects tens of millions of Americans, and it is estimated that a third of all people who have diabetes are unaware of their condition. Diabetes accounts for nearly ten percent of all U.S. deaths for people 25 and older. It is also the main cause of new cases of blindness among adults 20 to 74 years old, and it is the leading cause of end-stage renal (kidney) disease. In addition, diabetes is the primary reason for amputations of the limb, and is a leading cause of heart disease.

Diabetes is generally tested for by measuring the amount of glucose in the bloodstream. There are three types of tests that can be used for this purpose. One is a direct measurement of blood glucose levels after an overnight fast, and the second is a measurement of the body`s ability to handle excess sugar after drinking liquid glucose. A third test method, the glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test, measures the number of glucose molecules attached to hemoglobin over a period of two to three months.

The conventional "gold standard" for diagnosis of diabetes is a recurring elevated blood sugar level after an overnight fast. A fasting blood sugar value above 126 mg/dl on at least two separate occasions is said to be indicative of diabetes (whereas normal values are between 64 and 110 mg/dl). However, neither glucose metabolism problems, nor the early stages of Type II diabetes can be easily diagnosed without a 4 to 5 hour Glucose Tolerance Test that checks both glucose and insulin levels.

There are natural cures for Diabetes that do not involve the use of pharmaceutical drugs. They involve restoring the biochemical balance of the body, and making dietary and lifestyle changes designed to improve one's general health.

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Natural Cures for Diabetes