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Diabetes is a serious
and costly disease which is becoming increasingly common, especially in
developing countries and disadvantaged minorities. It is a leading cause
of death by disease. It can lead to heart attack, stroke, kidney
disease, amputation and blindness.
(Diabetes mellitus is a chronic
disease caused by inherited and/or acquired deficiency in production of
insulin by the pancreas, or by the ineffectiveness of the insulin
produced. Such a deficiency results in increased concentrations of
glucose in the blood, which in turn damage many of the body's systems,
in particular the blood vessels and nerves.) The scale of the
problem that diabetes poses to world health is still widely under
recognized. At least 177 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes;
this figure is likely to more than double by 2025. Diabetic retinopathy
is a leading cause of blindness and visual disability. -
(Diabetes mellitus is
associated with damage to the small blood vessels in the retina,
resulting in loss of vision.) -
Findings, consistent from study to study, make it possible to suggest
that, after 15 years of diabetes, approximately 2% of people become
blind, while about 10% develop severe visual handicap. Diabetes is among
the leading causes of kidney failure, but its frequency varies between
populations and is also related to the severity and duration of the
disease. Heart disease accounts for approximately 50% of all deaths
among people with diabetes in industrialized countries. Diabetes negates
the protection from heart disease which pre-menopausal women without
diabetes experience. Diabetic neuropathy -
(Neuropathy can lead to sensory loss and
damage to the limbs and is also a major cause of impotence in diabetic
men) - is probably the most common complication of diabetes -
up to 50% of people with diabetes are affected to some degree. Diabetic
foot disease often leads to ulceration and subsequent limb amputation.
It is one of the most costly complications of diabetes. Diabetes is the
most common cause of non-traumatic amputation of the lower limb.
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