We don't take seriously what we don't know about it. It's true. Ignorance is bliss. Well, unless that ignorance can kill you. Diabetes was the sixth leading cause of death in 2003. Diabetes is only super ceded by heart disease, cancer, stroke, lower respiratory disease, and accidents.

Here are the prevalence rates:

Total: 20.8 million children and adults, 7.0% of the population, have diabetes.

Diagnosed: 14.6 million people

Undiagnosed: 6.2 million people

Pre-diabetes: 41 million people (Source: American Diabetes Assocation)

That means that diabetes will probably affect you or someone you know and love. That should be enough to get your attention. The problem with diabetes, however, is that it can cause a rash of other complications. Diabetes can cause loss of blood to the vessels that supply nerves. This can lead to nerve death and, consequently, loss of sensation in the hands and feet. Likewise, diabetes can cause damage to the blood vessels in the back of the eye. This in turn can prompt retinal damage and blindness. Diabetes also causes damage to the blood vessels supplying the kidneys. Kidney failure can be the result. And the same can be said of the heart. In other words, you want to control your diabetes.

Take hope - you can control this disease. In most cases, diabetes can be controlled very effectively with healthy eating, exercise, and medication.

Know your family history and the symptoms. Stop diabetes in its tracks.