Diabetes is rapidly growing metabolic disease, which is affecting an ever increasing proportion throughout the world.It is a chronic metabolic disorder characterised by elevated glucose levels .The prevalance of adult diabetes is projected to rise markedly in both developed and developing countries.Diabetes is now considered by world Health Organisation (W.H.O) as an "epedemic" and represents a huge burden for socities worldwide ............................................................................................... The WHO and the International Diabetes Fedration (IDF) estimates that the number of diabetic patients in the world is currently between 194 and 246 million , and that this figure will rise to between 333 and 380 million by 2025 ............................................................................................. It is estimated to affect 194 million people worldwide and this is expected to increase to at least 330 million over the next 25 years . Diabetes is responsible for up to 15% of total healthcare spending in most countries and is the fourth main cause of death in developed countrs ............................................................................................. The prevalence of diabetes in some countries of the Eastern Mediterranian and Middle East Region (EMME) is among the highest in the world (9.4 ) per cent in 20 07 This region extends from Pakistan in the East to Morocco in the West and the opulation is mosaic of several ethnic groups .The age distribution pattern of the population is pyramidal with about 50% of the population below the age of 20 years.Six of the countries of the region are UAE,Bahrain,Kuwait,Saudi Arabia,Egypt and Oman have had studies performed showing their current diabetes prevalence to be among the world"s 10 highest and a similar situation applies for IGT ( imparied glucose tolerance or - pre - diabetes) prevalence in these countries as with many,other countries with high diabetes prevalence ,the onst of type 2 diabetes tends to occur at a relatively young age. ............................................................................................ According to the IDF ,the number of oeople aged 20 to 79 years with diabetes in the EMME region will increase from 24.5 million in 2007 to44.5 million in 2025 . Moreover , the number of people with imparied glucose tolerance ( pre - diabetes) will increase from 22..4 million to 38.6 million during the same period .................................................................................................. complications caused by diabetes : Accounting for about four million deaths in ayear - diabete is the fourth leading cause in most of the countries It is the most common cause of blindness and visual impairment in adults in developed countries It is the most common cause of amputation not due to the result of an accident People with diabetes are 15 to 40 times more likely to require a lower limb amputation compared to the general population Diabetes is an increasingly important cause of renal failure ,and is the single most common cause of endstage renal disease People with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease ,when compared to people without diabetes