Diabetes Complications

Diabetes, in the United States, is responsible for:

• The fifth leading cause of death inn the United States. Over 215,000 deaths each year. 

• Heart disease is the leading cause of diabetes-related deaths. Diabetics are 2 to 4 times more likely to die of heart disease, and up to 6 times more likely than non-diabetics to suffer stroke. 65 % of diabetic deaths are due to heart disease or stroke. 

• The leading cause of end-stage kidney disease accounting for 44% of new cases. It is the major cause of kidney transplants and kidney dialysis. 

• Diabetic retinopathy which leads to 12,000 - 24,000 new cases of blindness each year. 

• 70% of diabetics suffer mild to severe forms of nerve system damage (diabetic neuropathy); and 

• Greater risk of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). 

• The leading cause of most non-traumatic lower-limb amputations (82,000 each year). Globally, every 30 seconds a lower limb is lost to diabetes.

• High incidence of the following cancers: Cancer of the liver, colorectal cancer and pancreatic cancer. 

• 3 Times more likely to die of complications from flu or pneumonia, up to 30,000 people each year.

• Twice the risk of developing hearing loss. 

• Periodontal disease is a type of gum disease that can lead to tooth loss occurs with greater frequency and severity among people with diabetes. Left untreated, it can be life threatening. 33% of diabetics have periodontal disease.

• 73% of Diabetics have High Blood Pressure (Hypertension). 

• Poorly controlled diabetes can cause major birth defects during pregnancy; and miscarriages in 15 - 20% of diabetics' pregnancies. It also poses a greater risk to both mother and child during the pregnancy. 

• 65% greater risk of Alzheimer's disease. 

• 25% to 30% of all diabetics are Black or Hispanic. Asian Americans have a 60% greater risk for developing diabetes. Native American Indians have also exhibited a high incidence of diabetes with some tribes in the Southwestern part of the United States reporting rates as high as 95% 

• The possibility of acute life-threatening events, such as diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar nonketotic coma (both are medical conditions that can result from biochemical imbalance in uncontrolled diabetes). 

• 15% of the United States' entire annual Health Care Cost or $137 Billion Dollars.

 
Could you be one of the millions of Americans or World Citizens who don't know they have diabetes? There are now 246 million people worldwide with diabetes.

Many of the Warning Signs of diabetes come on gradually and are not particularly noticed right away. This can prolong the length of time for the disease to develop and possibly lead to unnecessary complications.

This is why we at Defeat Diabetes Foundation put so much emphasis on early detection of the disease through extensive public awareness programs of the Warning Signs of diabetes and the taking of our Defeat Diabetes Screening Test.