Clinical Diabetes and the Diabetes Epidemic

Abstract

The incidence of diabetes is rising sharply as the population grows older and more obese. Since 1960, the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes has increased by two- to threefold.1 At the same time, awareness of diabetes as a heart disease equivalent has evolved.2 It is more crucial than ever for diabetic patients to receive optimal care. However, according to national surveys taken between 1988 and 1995, as described in the review by Tulloch-Reid and Williams in this issue (p. 43), such care was not the norm during this time. In the years since, an abundance of medical research has accumulated demonstrating the necessity of treating glucose, blood pressure, and lipids aggressively and of using angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, statins, and aspirin to prevent the development of macro- and microvascular complications.3 With the wealth of evidence available from clinical research, the quality of diabetes care has hopefully improved in step with the evolution of this new knowledge. The role of Clinical Diabetes is to disseminate timely information in an effort to improve care by translating important results from diabetes research into reviews, advice, and guidelines for health care providers. During the past 5 years, under the …