| Why this is important: Diabetes is a group of diseases marked by high levels of blood glucose, also called blood sugar, resulting from defects in insulin production, insulin action, or both. In 2007, diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in the United States and an estimated 23.6 million people or 7.8% of the population had diabetes. The prevalence of diagnosed type 2 diabetes increased sixfold in the latter half of the last century. Diabetes risk factors such as obesity and physical inactivity have played a major role in this dramatic increase. Age, race, and ethnicity are also important risk factors.
Diabetes can have a harmful effect on most of the organ systems in the human body; it is a frequent cause of end-stage renal disease, non-traumatic lower-extremity amputation, and a leading cause of blindness among working age adults. Persons with diabetes are also at increased risk for ischemic heart disease, neuropathy, and stroke. In economic terms, the direct medical expenditure attributable to diabetes in 2007 was estimated to be $116 billion. |
