INS and diabetes mellitus: Diabetes is a chronic disease with no or very mild symptoms in its early stages.10,33 By the time it is diagnosed, substantial damage to the cells that store and release insulin has often already occurred.5 For individuals with prediabetes, if their disease is left untreated, 15%-30% progress to type 2 diabetes within five years.42 It is critical therefore to understand not only the factors that may influence the progression of diabetes, but the early signs of disease.