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MODEL RELEASED. Diabetic blood sample. Woman holding a device used to obtain blood samples from diabetic patients. Diabetes mellitus is a carbohydrate metabolism disorder that results in dangerously high levels of glucose in the blood. Regular monitoring of blood glucose is therefore necessary. The patient's finger is pricked using a sharp lancet on this device, to extract a drop of blood. The blood glucose level is then measured. Diabetes mellitus is often caused by insufficient insulin production by the pancreas. Treatment includes controlling dietary sugar intake, and insulin injections. This is the Softclix 2 device made by Roche Diagnostics Corporation. (KEYSTONE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/SATURN STILLS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY)