Introduction
Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a group of metabolic diseases
characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects of insulin
secretion and/or increased cellular resistance to insulin.
Chronic hyperglycemia and other metabolic disturbances lead
to long-term tissue and organ damage involving the eyes,
kidneys, nervous, and vascular systems.1 Classified as a
“chronic disease epidemic” by the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, the prevalence of DM has increased
dramatically over the past forty years