Diabetes is a common disease...
The 2005 estimates reveal that 57,000 adults in Rhode Island or 6.8% of the population are diagnosed with diabetes.
Nationwide, there are over 24 million people who are diagnosed with the disease. The number of people newly diagnosed with diabetes is growing by approximately 1 million a year.
Diabetes creates serious complications...
People with diabetes suffer from many complications of the disease including cardiovascular disease, stroke, blindness, end-stage renal disease, neuropathy, and limb amputation.
In Rhode Island, there were 307 lower extremity amputations in 2002 and 419 people with diagnosed end-stage renal disease in 2005 because of diabetes.
In 2003, there were 21,004 diabetes-related hospitalizations, of which 6,429 were for cardiovascular disease in Rhode Island. People with diabetes have more hospitalizations and longer lengths of stay in the hospital than those without the disease.
Diabetes is a costly disease...
In addition to the emotional and financial burden on individual families, diabetes exacts a financial toll on Rhode Island – in 2007, the direct and indirect health care costs of diabetes totaled approximately $714 million.
The estimated costs of diabetes in 2007 are $174 billion in the U.S. This includes $116 billion in direct medical care and $58 billion in reduced productivity, absenteeism, and disability
The Special Diabetes Program benefits Rhode Island...
Tribal communities in Rhode Island that are disproportionately affected by diabetes have received $66,000 from the Special Diabetes Program for Indians for care and prevention efforts. These programs have reduced A1C levels in this population which translates to a 40% reduction in diabetes-related complications.
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