November is set aside each year as National Diabetes Month. The goal is to make the public more aware of the serious nature of the disease and how to detect and control it. When our bodies are unable to maintain a normal blood sugar level, many complications may follow, including kidney failure. The disease is also the leading cause of new cases of blindness. Diabetes in the U.S. is on the rise, and some public health experts even refer to it as an epidemic, fueled by our overweight and inactive lifestyle. One of the most vital tools in the fight against the ravages of diabetes is insulin. Insulin is one product of the industry making pharmaceuticals worth $142 billion annually. Profile America is in its 16th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.