First Of Its Kind National Report Reveals Estimated High Prevale

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First of its Kind National Report Reveals Estimated HighPrevalence and Heavy Cost of Type 2 Diabetes Complications in America


In Response, Health Organizations Unite to Help Educate onGood Diabetes Management and How to Reduce the Risk of Other Serious Health Problems

A first of its kind report looking at the prevalence and costof type 2 diabetes complications shows that an estimated threeout of five people (57.9 percent) with type 2 diabetes have atleast one of the other serious health problems commonlyassociated with the disease, and that these health problemsare taking a heavy financial toll on the United States. In2006, the nation spent an estimated $22.9 billion on direct medical costs related to diabetes complications.

The new report, titled State of Diabetes Complications inAmerica, also shows that estimated annual healthcare costs fora person with type 2 diabetes complications are about threetimes higher than that of the average American withoutdiagnosed diabetes. These complications, which can includeheart disease, stroke, eye damage, chronic kidney disease andfoot problems that can lead to amputations, cost a person withtype 2 diabetes almost $10,000 each year. People with diabetescomplications pay nearly $1,600 out of their own pockets forcosts that are not reimbursed by insurance, such asco-payments and deductibles. This amount is significant,considering that according to the National Health InterviewSurvey, an estimated 40 percent of adults with diabetesreported a family income of less than $35,000 per year in 2005.

Results from the report were released today at the AmericanAssociation of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) 16th AnnualMeeting and Clinical Congress, by AACE in partnership with themembers of a diabetes complications consortium: the AmputeeCoalition of America, Mended Hearts, the National Federationof the Blind and the National Kidney Foundation, and supported by GlaxoSmithKline.

The State of Diabetes Complications in America is an analysisof national health and economic data specific to type 2diabetes complications, and was developed as a follow-up to a2005 AACE study showing that two out of three Americans withtype 2 diabetes analyzed in a study had elevated blood sugar levels, which can lead to diabetes complications.

Many people with type 2 diabetes develop more than one healthcomplication associated with the disease. The new report showsthat an estimated one out of three people (33.3 percent) withthe disease has one other serious health problem; one out often people (10.3 percent) with the disease has two otherserious health problems; one out of 15 people (6.7 percent)with the disease has three other serious health problems; oneout of 13 people (7.6 percent) has four or more other serious health problems.

The report makes it clear that we have a major national issuewhen it comes to diabetes management, and that urgent actionis needed, said Daniel Einhorn, MD, FACE, and Secretary of theBoard of Directors of AACE. People with type 2 diabetes needto achieve and maintain good blood glucose levels over time toimprove their chances of reducing the risk of these serious complications.

The State of Diabetes Complications in America reportsynthesizes data from two large national studies to examinethe issue of diabetes related complications in the UnitedStates. Data on the prevalence of diabetes relatedcomplications were derived from the National Health andNutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and combined witheconomic data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS).

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