Between the years 1990 and 2010, the incidence of health complications arising from diabetes has been reduced significantly among diabetic adults in the U.S., based on a new study published by The New England Journal of Medicine on April 17, titled "Changes in Diabetes-Related Complications in the United States, 1990-2010."
Among the complications reduced and noted by the study were acute myocardial infarction, stroke, amputation and end-stage renal disease. Highest reductions in complications have been particularly seen in cardiovascular diseases, while the lowest have been noted in end-stage renal conditions seen to have grown in older adults.
Heart attack and stroke rates have been reduced to approximately 70 percent and 50 percent, respectively, among diabetic people. Lower extremity amputations have been reduced by more than 50 percent as well. Deaths arising from high blood sugar level have gone down by 65 percent, while risk of having end-stage renal disease dropped 28 percent.
The decline in cardiovascular conditions has been most observed in people of 75 years and older.
"In general, this study is good news. Rates of diabetes complications have declined, and that's a testament to what good care and self-management can do," study author Dr. Edward W. Gregg said. He is also the branch chief of the epidemiology and statistics in the division of diabetes translation of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
The study notes several factors that could have contributed to the decline in complications, such as advanced and better health care management and system among diabetic patients including their risk factors, as well as lifestyle and social changes.
Surprisingly, the reduction rate in these diabetes-related complications has even surpassed the reduction rate among people without diabetes, because apparently, the rates of people getting diabetes have been increasing. About 6.5 million of Americans acquired diabetes in 1990. 20 years later, the rate swelled to 20.7 million, the study reveals. The culprit: rising cases of obesity, which leads to Type 2 diabetes.
"[Complications from diabetes] are still high, and will stay with us unless we can make substantial progress in preventing Type 2 diabetes," Dr. Gregg also said.
The first observation on such reduction rate in diabetes-related complications came in 1995, the study says. It has been consistent since then.
"Although these findings are generally good news for patients with diabetes mellitus, our analyses do not provide a complete picture of trends in risk factors and complications," the study likewise said.
Regardless, the study pointed out that there's a need for heightened surveillance and enhanced measurement of the quality of life.
