Researchers estimate that one-third of diabetics do not know they have the condition. This is known as 'Silent Diabetes' and is obviously a cause for concern.

Whether people are truly ignorant of the symptoms or choose to ignore them, this leaves millions of people in need of medical care they are not receiving.

I admit that I myself have ignored diabetes symptoms because I didn't want to confront the implications, and I know several people that seem to be suffering from diabetes, yet deny it.

Statistics from the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal the number of Americans older than age 20 with diabetes has jumped from 5.1 percent to 6.5 percent since 1988, but about a third of those with the condition have been consistently unaware.

IMB has a thought-provoking article on Silent Diabetes here.

(Photo Source: Skot Foremon)