diabetes mellitus is a major global health problem. according to the most recent projections, the worldwide prevalence of diabetes mellitus is expected to reach 220 million in the year 2010 and 300 million in 2025 compared to the current prevalence of around 160 million. this volume focuses on recent advances in the area of diabetes mellitus and its complications, from basic research at the molecular level to clinical medicine, spanning several areas including epidemiology, diagnosis, complications, prevention, treatment, beta cell function and dysfunction, metabolic syndrome, glucose and lipid metabolism and drug targets. the international conference of which this is the proceedings provided a forum for the exchange of ideas and the dissemination of current knowledge about the full range of issues concerning type i and type ii diabetes mellitus. note: annals volumes are available for sale as individual books or as a journal.