A startling new discovery about a hormone released from the bone is significantly changing scientists understanding of diabetes and giving new clues about how to deal with the Big D. Considered to be the fifth leading killer of Americans, diabetes is a disease in which the bodys failure to regulate blood sugar (glucose) can lead to serious and even fatal complications. The regulation of glucose entails the body’s monitoring of how much sugar is present in a persons blood; how much is taken up by cells for fuel; and how much is released from energy stores. These processes are performed by the pancreas, the liver, muscles, and fat. Other specific types of diabetes, which may account for 1% to 2% of all diagnosed cases, result from specific genetic syndromes, surgery, drugs, malnutrition, infections, and other illnesses.