The changing face of diabetes complications and its global implications

Gregg, E. W., Sattar, N. and Ali, M. K. (2016) The changing face of diabetes complications and its global implications. Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, 4(6), pp. 537-547. (doi: 10.1016/S2213-8587(16)30010-9) (PMID:27156051)

Abstract

The global increase in type 2 diabetes prevalence is well documented, but the implications and interntional trends in the diverse complications that follow from diabetes are largely unknown. This synthesis of available international data on trends in diabetes complications demonstrates large reductions in classic complications in high-income countries, dominated by reductions in myocardial infarction, stroke, amputations, and mortality. These trends may be accompanied by less obvious but important changes in the character of morbidity experienced by persons with diabetes. In the U.S., for example, large reductions in macrovascular complications in older adults have meant that a large proportion of total complications now occur among middle-aged adults, rates of renal disease may persist more than other complications, and there may be an increasing impact of obesity-related type 2 diabetes in youth and young adults. In addition, the combination of decreasing mortality and increasing diabetes prevalence has increased the overall number of years lived with diabetes and may to lead to a diversification of diabetes morbidity, including continued high rates of renal disease, aging-related disability, and cancers. Unfortunately, data on trends in diabetes-related complications are limited to only about a dozen mostly high-income countries, leaving the changing character for low and middle income countries ambiguous.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Sattar, Professor Naveed
• Authors: Gregg, E. W., Sattar, N., and Ali, M. K.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
• Journal Name: Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 2213-8587
• ISSN (Online): 2213-8595
• Published Online: 04 May 2016