Complications of Diabetes
Heart Disease and Stroke
Heart disease accounts for about 68% of diabetes-related deaths in people age 65 and older.Stroke accounts for about 16% of diabetes-related deaths in people age 65 and older.
Adults with diabetes have heart disease death rates about 2 to 4 times higher than adults without diabetes.
The risk for stroke is 2 to 4 times higher among people with diabetes.
High Blood PressureAbout 75% of adults with diabetes have blood pressure greater than or equal to 130/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or use prescription medications for hypertension.
Blindness
Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults 20-74 years old.
Diabetic retinopathy causes from 12,000 to 24,000 new cases of blindness each year.
Kidney Disease
Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, accounting for 44% of new cases in 2005.
In 2005, 46,739 people with diabetes began treatment for end-stage kidney disease in the United States and Puerto Rico.
In 2005, a total of 178,689 people with end-stage kidney disease due to diabetes were living on chronic dialysis or with a kidney transplant in the United States and Puerto Rico.
Nervous System Disease
About 60% to 70% of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nervous system damage. The results of such damage include impaired sensation or pain in the feet or hands, slowed digestion of food in the stomach, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other nerve problems.Almost 30% of people with diabetes aged 40 years or older have impaired sensation in the feet (i.e., at least one area that lacks feeling).
Severe forms of diabetic nerve disease are a major contributing cause of lower-extremity amputations.
Amputations
More than 60% of nontraumatic lower-limb amputations in the United States occur among people with diabetes.
In 2004, about 71,000 nontraumatic lower-limb amputations were performed in people with diabetes. This has decreased since 2002.
Dental Disease
Periodontal (gum) disease is more common in people with diabetes. Among young adults, those with diabetes have about twice the risk of those without diabetes. Persons with poorly controlled diabetes (A1C > 9%) were nearly 3 times more likely to have severe periodontitis than those without diabetes.
Almost one-third of people with diabetes have severe periodontal disease with loss of attachment of the gums to the teeth measuring 5 millimeters or more.
Complications of Pregnancy
Poorly controlled diabetes before conception and during the first trimester of pregnancy among women with type 1 diabetes can cause major birth defects in 5% to 10% of pregnancies and spontaneous abortions in 15% to 20% of pregnancies.
Poorly controlled diabetes during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy can result in excessively large babies, posing a risk to both mother and child.
Other Complications
Uncontrolled diabetes often leads to biochemical imbalances that can cause acute life-threatening events, such as DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis) and hyperosmolar (nonketotic) coma.
People with diabetes are more susceptible to many other illnesses and, once they acquire these illnesses, often have worse prognoses. For example, they are more likely to die with pneumonia or influenza than people who do not have diabetes. People with diabetes age 60 years or older ar 2 to 3 times more likely to report an inability to walk one-quarter of a mile, climb stairs, do housework, or use a mobility aid compared with people without diabetes in the same age group.
Cost of Diabetes in the United States
Total (Direct and Indirect):$174 billion
Direct Medical Costs: $116 billion
Indirect Costs: $58 billion (disability, work loss, premature mortality)
Treatment of Diabetes
In order to survive, people with type 1 diabetes must have insulin delivered by a pump or injections.
Many people with type 2 diabetes can control their blood glucose by following a careful diet and exercise program, losing excess weight, and taking oral medication.
Many people with diabetes also need to take medications to control their cholesterol and blood pressure.
Prevention of Diabetes Research studies in the United States and abroad have found that lifestyle changes can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes among high-risk adults. Lifestyle interventions included diet and moderate-intensity physical activity (such as walking for 2 ½ hours each week).
SOURCE:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Diabetes Fact Sheet. (PDF accessed 6/24/08).
