Normally, blood glucose levels are tightly controlled by insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. Insulin lowers the blood glucose level. When the blood glucose elevates (for example, after eating food), insulin is released from the pancreas to normalize the glucose level. In patients with diabetes, the absence of insufficient production of, or lack of response to insulin causes hyperglycemia. Diabetes is a chronic medical condition, meaning that although it can be controlled, it lasts a lifetime.
Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels that result from defects in insulin secretion, or its action, or both. Diabetes mellitus, often often called diabetes (as it will be in this editorial) was first identified as a disease associated with "sweet urine," and excessive muscle loss in the ancient world. Elevated levels of blood glucose (hyperglycemia) lead to spillage of glucose in to the urine, hence the term sweet urine.
Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels that result from defects in insulin secretion, or its action, or both. Diabetes mellitus, often often called diabetes (as it will be in this editorial) was first identified as a disease associated with "sweet urine," and excessive muscle loss in the ancient world. Elevated levels of blood glucose (hyperglycemia) lead to spillage of glucose in to the urine, hence the term sweet urine.
What is the impact of diabetes?
Over time, diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney failure, and nerve destroy. These types of destroy are the result of destroy to small vessels, often called microvascular disease. Diabetes is also an important factor in accelerating the hardening and narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis), leading to strokes, coronary heart disease, and other huge blood vessel diseases. This is often called macrovascular disease. Diabetes affects about 26 million people in the United States, while another 79 million have prediabetes. An estimated 7 million people in the United States have diabetes and don't even know it.
From an economic point of view, the total annual cost of diabetes in 2012 was estimated to be 245 billion dollars in the United States. This included 116 billion in direct medical costs (healthcare costs) for people with diabetes and another 69 billion in other costs due to disability, premature death, or work loss. Medical expenses for people with diabetes are over times higher than those for individuals who do not have diabetes. Keep in mind, these numbers reflect only the population in the United States. Globally, the statistics are staggering.
Diabetes was the 7th leading cause of death in the United States listed on death certificates in 2007.
From an economic point of view, the total annual cost of diabetes in 2012 was estimated to be 245 billion dollars in the United States. This included 116 billion in direct medical costs (healthcare costs) for people with diabetes and another 69 billion in other costs due to disability, premature death, or work loss. Medical expenses for people with diabetes are over times higher than those for individuals who do not have diabetes. Keep in mind, these numbers reflect only the population in the United States. Globally, the statistics are staggering.
Diabetes was the 7th leading cause of death in the United States listed on death certificates in 2007.
