What We Know From Research
10 Things Research Has Taught Us About Diabetes
1. Diabetes is a serious disease. While there is no cure at present, thousands of scientists are working to understand the complex mechanisms of the disease, which may someday lead to cures.
2. In the meantime, basic and clinical research has provided us with increasingly better and more effective ways to treat, and in some cases, prevent, diabetes.
3. With proper treatment, most people with diabetes can live a full and active life.
4. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes have a genetic component. People with a genetic predisposition for diabetes may still be able to avoid the disease through prevention efforts, principally through diet, weight control and exercise.
5. Prevalence of diabetes is dramatically increasing, afflicting more than 26 million Americans and costing about $200 billion per year. One out of every ten health care dollars is spent on diabetes care.
6. Type 2 diabetes is 20 times more prevalent than type 1. Both forms can occur in children and adults.
7. Insulin must be used for patients with type 1, but can also be used to treat type 2.
8. Diabetes is the leading cause of heart disease, blindness, kidney failure and amputations in the United States. Control of glucose levels greatly diminishes risks of such complications.
9. There are more than 26 million Americans with diabetes and more than 7 million who have it but don’t know it.
10. Because of non-genetic factors such as obesity, diabetes is now a global epidemic, with experts projecting that one of every two people in the world will develop diabetes by 2050. This would be the most devastating health calamity in human history and we must do whatever it takes to prevent it.