Postprandial hyperglycemia: Clinical significance and management

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes incidence is increasing in epidemic proportions throughout the world. Today 177 million people suffer from diabetes and this number will increase to at least 300 million in the next 20 years. The chronic complications of this disease have devastating consequences on quality of life and life expectancy and impose a great burden to individuals and society. About 4 million deaths in every year are attributable to diabetes complications, predominantly cardiovascular. Macrovascular complications (especially ischemic heart disease, peripheral arteriopathy, ischemic cerebrovascular disease) are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in type 2 diabetes.