Diabetes is a disease in which blood glucose levels are above normal. Most of food we eat is turned into glucose (sugar) for our bodies to burn to create energy. The pancreas, an organ that lies near stomach, produces a hormone called insulin to help glucose get into cells of our bodies. When you have diabetes, your body either doesn't make enough insulin or can't use its own insulin as well as it should. This causes large amounts of sugar to build up in your blood.

The actual cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity appear to play major roles. Diabetes can cause serious health complications including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and lower-extremity amputations. According to Center for Disease Control, diabetes is sixth leading cause of death in United States. As of 2002, 18.2 million people in U.S.--6.3 percent of population--had diabetes, with 1.3 million new cases being diagnosed each year. The National Institutes of Health also estimate that an additional 5.2 million people have diabetes without actually being aware of it.

There are two main types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes, which was previously called insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile-onset diabetes, accounts for about 10% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes, which was called non-insulin-dependent or adult-onset diabetes, accounts for remaining 90%. Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that only pregnant women get. If not treated, it can cause problems for both baby and mother. Gestational diabetes develops in 2% to 5% of all pregnancies, but usually disappears when pregnancy is over.

But that was ages ago. The world has changed so much since those days. Life styles have changed so much and comforts and facilities have increased so much. But every rose has its thorn. As a result of all these comforts and amenities state of physical well being has really changed. Most of us have sedentary jobs that demand little or no exercise at all. To put it simply, things have become so damn easy. And just as can be expected, weight gain has become a major concern for almost every city dweller.

During period of thoughtless youth it is not such a major concern. The young practically eat nothing and so weight problems do not bother them so much. But as soon as you turn twenty, you start showing signs of weight gain and that too in all wrong places.