DIABETES MELLITUS EPIDEMIOLOGY

Abstract

The worldwide diabetes epidemics is evolving proportionally with the overweight/obesity epidemics. 246 million people with diabetes (type 2 diabetes constituting about 90%) were registered worldwide in 2007. It was estimated that 285 million people had diabetes in 2010, a number that will grow to approximately 438 million people by 2030 [1]. It was estimated that in Romania in 2010 the number of people with diabetes would reach 1351400 [1], which equals a prevalence of 8.4% of the adult population (20-79 years) [1]. In December 2010 the number of patients with diabetes in Dolj County was 29520 (11.72% type 1 diabetes, 88.15 type 2 diabetes and 0.13% other specific types of diabetes), accounting for 4.19% of the population [3]. Although theoretically we have expected a decrease in the number of newly diagnosed cases of diabetes in 2009 and 2010 compared to 2006 (date from which diabetes was diagnosed currently), taking into consideration the number of old unknown cases diagnosed through active screening due to the National Program of Evaluation the Population Health (June 2007 – January 2009), the ascending trend of new cases of diabetes continued, sustaining the worldwide diabetes epidemics also in Dolj County. Diabetes is worldwide recognized as the fifth leading cause of death. Diabetes survival rate is ten years lower compared to the general population [4]. Cardiovascular complications are responsible for approximately 80% of type 2 diabetes-related deaths [4]. Medical expenses for people with diabetes are two times higher than for the general population, growing higher every year.