IntroductionThe purpose of this study is to research the disease of type 2 diabetes and find out if it is effectively treated and prevented in Merced County, California. According to the National Institutes of Health, diabetes mellitus is “a lifelong (chronic) disease in which there are high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. It is also the most common form of diabetes.”1 Additionally, there are many risk and lifestyle factors associated with this disease, but the most prevalent are; obesity (risk factor #1), sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy eating habits, family and genetic history, advanced age, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and a history of gestational diabetes.2 The long-term complications of type diabetes 2 may include but are not limited to; eye problems (cataracts and glaucoma), foot problems (neuropathy/nerve damage), skin problems (infections), high blood pressure (which increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, eye problems and kidney disease), loss of hearing, oral health, mental health and premature death.3 Based on available quantitative data, type 2 diabetes is a very serious problem affecting residents of Merced County. Compared to all 58 California counties, Merced ranks 50th in the number of deaths due to the disease, with an age-adjusted mortality rate of 26.1 deaths per 100,000 population (2007-2009).4 In comparison, California's age-adjusted average is 19.5 deaths.5 However, we believe Merced is better than the 65.8 deaths per 100,000 people set as the target rate by Healthy People 2020.6 Additionally, healthypeople.gov has an overall goal related to type 2 diabetes and health which is to reduce the disease and economic burden of diabetes mellitus (DM) to...... half of the document ....../pubs/pdf/diabetesreportcard.pdf. Accessed November 8, 2013.2. California Diabetes Program. Available at: http://caldiabetes.org/content.cfm?contentID=1259&ProfilesID=22. Accessed November 7, 2013.3.County Health Status Profiles. Available at: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/pubsforms/Pubs/OHIRProfiles2013.pdf. Accessed November 9, 2013.4.Merced County Health Status Profile 2011. Available at: http://www.co.merced.ca.us/documents/Public%20Health/MerCo%20Hlth%20Status%20Profile%202011.PDF . Accessed November 9, 2013.5. HealthyPeople.gov. Diabetes. Available at: http://healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview.aspx?topicid=8. Accessed 8 November 2013. Table 1. https://watch.diabetesreversaltalk.com/pages/ep-v1/img/scott-slide_003.jpg http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3RtrvOxNXA0/U53kEwsb0vI/AAAAAAAACX0/ xVE6GJNUdys/s1600/map26.jpg