We often hear about the dangers of diabetes, but nothing drives the point home more strongly than learning about the massive complications you can get if you have the disease and the hefty financial tag to treat them.
Well, the news is getting even more scary. About three out of five people (57.9 %) of the estimated 18 million Americans with type 2 diabetes have at least one serious health problem such as chronic kidney disease, diabetes-related eye disease or foot problems that’s associated with diabetes.
What’s more, a whopping $22.9 billion was spent on direct medical costs related to diabetes complications.
So finds a-first-of-its-kind report, "State of Diabetes Complications in America," which was recently released by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists at its annual meeting and clinical congress, in partnership with the Amputee Coalition of America, the cardiac support group Mended Hearts, the National Federation of the Blind and the National Kidney Foundation. The project was underwritten by GlaxoSmithKline.
"The report makes it clear that we have a major national issue when it comes to diabetes management, and that urgent action is needed," Daniel Einhorn, MD, FACE, and Secretary of the Board of Directors of AACE, said in a prepared statement.
"People with type 2 diabetes need to achieve and maintain good blood glucose levels over time to improve their chances of reducing the risk of these serious complications."
Here are some of the study’s results, according to the press release:
- "Congestive heart failure occurs in 7.9 percent of people with diagnosed diabetes vs. 1.1 percent of people without diabetes
- Heart attack occurs in 9.8 percent of people with diabetes vs. 1.8 percent without diabetes
- Coronary heart disease occurs in 9.1 percent of people with diabetes vs. 2.1 percent without diabetes
- Stroke occurs in 6.6 percent of people with diabetes vs. 1.8 percent without diabetes:
AACE’s press release also points out that:
- "Chronic kidney disease1 occurs in 27.8 percent of people with diabetes vs. 6.1 percent without diabetes
- "Foot problems such as foot/toe amputation, foot lesions and numbness in the feet occur in 22.8 percent of people with diabetes vs. 10 percent without diabetes
- "Eye damage2 occurs in 18.9 percent of people with diabetes (figures for eye damage in people without diabetes are not available in NHANES)"
The new report synthesizes data from two large national studies — the CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS).
For a succinct article that discusses this landmark report, see the MedPageToday.com article from prolific senior associate editor Neil Osterweil.
For instance, MedPageToday.com’s Osterweil calls your attention to this important finding:
Estimated annual health care costs for a person suffering from type 2 diabetes is $10,000. that’s about $1,600 is an out-of-pocket expense.
See the MedPageToday.com story and the AACE press release.