ABSTRACT

References ............................................................................................................487

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition associated with an abnormally high level of

glucose in blood. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and

Kidney Diseases, 6.3% of the American population have diabetes, and the disease

contributes to more than 200,000 deaths each year [1]. The global incidence of

diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate and studies indicate that there will be 300

million people with type 2 diabetes world wide by the year 2010 [2]. There are two

major types of diabetes mellitus: type 1 diabetes or insulin dependent diabetes

mellitus (IDDM) and type 2 diabetes or non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

(NIDDM).