Diabetes

Studies indicate that diabetes is generally under-reported on death certificates, particularly in the cases of older persons with multiple chronic conditions such as heart disease and hypertension. Because of this, the toll of diabetes is believed to be much higher than officially reported.

Prevalence

• Diabetes prevalence increases with age.
• Approximately half of all diabetes cases occur in people older than 55 years of age.
• The risk for type 2 diabetes increases with age. Approximately 18.3% (8.6 million) of the United States population age 60 and older have diabetes.

Seniors and diabetes-related complications

The complications of diabetes include heart disease, stroke, vision loss/blindness, amputations and kidney disease.

• Heart disease and stroke. More than 65% of people with diabetes will die of heart disease or stroke, and they are likely to die younger that people who do not have diabetes. People with diabetes have the same cardiovascular risk as if they have already had a heart attack. People with diabetes are 2 to 4 times more likely to have heart disease (more than 77,000 deaths due to heart disease annually). Heart disease death rates are also 2 to 4 times as high as adults without diabetes. And, people with diabetes are 2 to 4 times more likely to suffer a stroke.
  
  
• Blindness due to diabetic retinopathy. Each year 12,000 to 24,000 people lose their sight because of diabetes. Diabetes is the leading cause of new blindness in people 20-74 years of age.
  
  
• Kidney disease due to diabetic nephropathy. Ten to 21% of all people with diabetes develop kidney disease. Diabetic nephropathy is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (kidney failure), accounting for 43% of new cases. In 2000, 41,046 people with diabetes initiated treatment for end-stage renal disease, and 129,183 people with diabetes underwent dialysis or kidney transplantation. People with diabetes who are over 65 years of age are twice as likely to be hospitalized for kidney infections compared with those without diabetes.
  
  
• Nerve disease and amputations. About 60-70% of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of diabetic nerve damage, which, in severe forms, can lead to lower limb amputations. In fact, diabetes is the most frequent cause of non-traumatic lower limb amputations. The risk of a leg amputation is 15-40 times greater for a person with diabetes. Each year, 82,000 people lose their foot or leg to diabetes.