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Show Diabetes: near cure Diabetes is one of the oldest diseases known to man. It is also one of the most perplexing. Diabetes was first described over 3000 years ago, and yet the disease could not be effectively treated until the 1920's. After the discovery of insulin in 1921, the pace of research accelerated dramatically. And today, researchers are confident that they are on the verge of a major breakthrough that will finally lead to a cure. Diabetes is actually several diseases, all with one common sign persistent elevated blood sugar. Type I diabetics must use insulin to control blood sugar, while Type II diabetics usually manage the disease through a combination of diet and medication. Diabetes afflicts nearly 12 million Americans today, and strikes an additional 600,000 each year. The cost of diabetes is astounding both in human and financial terms. It causes more deaths than any other disease, with the exception of cancer and heart disease. Annually, two million Americans are hospitalized due to diabetes. "Patients may suffer from tremendous complications and the cost of that to the United States health care system is over 13 billion dollars," says Keith Campbell, professor of pharmacy and board member of the Diabetes Research & Education Foundation. "Yet," he points out, "With careful attention at-tention to treatment, many of the more serious complications such as heart disease and blindness can be averted." Living with diabetes is a balancing act. If a diabetic pays close attention to a physician's instructions on diet, exercise and insulin or medication, he or she can enjoy virtually the same lifestyle as his or her peers. Better control of the disease is possible due to the treatment breakthroughs of the last 30 years. Effective oral medications for Type II diabetics first became available in 1956 and were improved upon with the 1984 introduction of glyburide. By 1980, new technology afforded Type I diabetics an alternative to daily insulin injections the insulin pump and also methods for monitoring their blood sugar at home. But improved treatment is no substitute for a cure. "We are in the midst of a period of many new developments," says Campbell. |