Diabetes is a common,
unobtrusive but deadly disease. It is one of the main causes
of:
- premature death
- heart disease and stroke
- blindness
- kidney failure
- foot and leg amputations
In 2009-10, there were an
estimated 3.1 million people aged 16 years and older with
diabetes in England, of which 2.34 million were diagnosed
and 760,000 were undiagnosed. The number is
increasing at an alarming rate (predicted to double world
wide by 2025). This will pose an enormous challenge to
society over the coming decades, in terms of costs to health
services and the personal burden of disability and
suffering. Quite possibly, you may have a relative or friend
with diabetes so you will have some acquaintance with this
potentially very serious disease.
Intensive research into the
causes and treatment of diabetes continues but a cure is
probably still many years away. In the meantime it is very
important that everything possible be done to improve the
day to day healthcare and support for people with diabetes.
This includes helping them acquire the necessary knowledge
and skills to accurately control the condition because this
will delay or prevent the development of many of the serious
complications of the disease.
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