Friday, May 23, 2008

Type I, Meet Insulin

By: Julia Hanf

20.8 million people suffer from diabetes in the United States. There are three kinds of diabetes, Type I, Type II and Gestational diabetes. Of the three, Type I affects 175.600 people, that's .22%, according to the American Diabetes Association. What exactly causes the disease is still unclear. We do know that there are certain factors that can influence whether a person develops the disease. Those include genetics and the lifestyle choices. Experts know that diabetes has existed since the 19th century, that the pancreas is directly responsible for the production of insulin and that somehow, insulin unlocks the body's cells to convert glucose into usable energy.


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