Table of Contents Introduction What Is Diabetes Mellitus? What Are the Types of Diabetes? Diagnosing Diabetes Forms of Prediabetes Scope and Impact of Diabetes Who Gets Diabetes? Information on Diabetes Treatment Information on Diabetes Research Keeping on Top of Your Condition

What Are the Scope and Impact of Diabetes?

Diabetes is widely recognized as one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. In 1999, about 450,000 deaths occurred among adults with diabetes.

Diabetes is associated with long-term complications that affect almost every part of the body. The disease often leads to blindness, heart and blood vessel disease, strokes, kidney failure, amputations, and nerve damage. Uncontrolled diabetes can complicate pregnancy, and birth defects are more common in babies born to women with diabetes.

In 1997, diabetes cost the United States $98 billion. Indirect costs, including disability payments, time lost from work, and premature death, totaled $54 billion; direct medical costs for diabetes care, including hospitalizations, medical care, and treatment supplies, totaled $44 billion.