Diabetes: Control - Slide 2

What is Diabetes?

• Diabetes is a group of diseases characterized by high levels of blood glucose (blood sugar)

• Diabetes can lead to serious health problems and premature death

• About 24 million Americans have diabetes

NIDDK, National Diabetes Statistics 2007.
www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/statistics/

Note:

• Diabetes is a group of diseases characterized by high levels of blood glucose (or blood sugar) which results from problems with insulin production, insulin action, or both.

• Diabetes can lead to serious problems and complications, such as heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, lower-limb amputations, and premature death.

• The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing in epidemic proportions throughout the U.S. and the world.

• 17.9 million Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes and another 5.7 million are undiagnosed—for a total of almost 24 million Americans with diabetes.

Reference

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. National Diabetes Statistics, 2007. Bethesda, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, 2008.

Revised November 2008