Introduction
Diabetes is a chronic disease caused by the fact that the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or the body cannot effectively use the produced insulin. More than 400 million people are living with diabetes worldwide, and the prevalence is expected to continue to rise (Cole & Florez, 2020). The illness remains one of the most pressing medical and social problems in society and is one of the leading causes of premature morbidity and mortality. Since it often leads to the amputation of limbs, loss of vision, kidney failure, and cardiovascular diseases (Cole & Florez, 2020). As a result of uncontrolled diabetes, hyperglycemia occurs, which means an increase in serum glucose levels. This affects many body systems, especially nerves and blood vessels.
Prevalence in the USA
The spread of diabetes in America is at an epidemic rate. The number of those diagnosed increased by fifteen percent in the past year alone. The figure is seriously alarming for specialists, especially considering this mass disease is not yet treatable. Today, 24 million Americans have diabetes, three million more than two years ago. This is the most common insulin-independent form of the disease, type 2 diabetes (Cole & Florez, 2020). Fifty-seven million individuals in the United States have a high predisposition to diabetes. One in four Americans over the age of 60 has diabetes. According to this year’s data, America spends 20% of its healthcare budget to care for 24 million diabetics, which is about $170 billion yearly, more than the cost of the war on terrorism (Cole & Florez, 2020). The diabetes epidemic threatens the economic future of the U.S. and, indeed, of the world.
Expenses
It is essential to mention that the U.S. is allocating a significant amount of money for diabetes care. In 2019, spending on diabetes care in America totaled $327 billion, as the number of victims of this metabolic disease again reached an all-time high (Cole & Florez, 2020). Identical to the accounting for many other frequently occurring cases of diabetes, including deaths, productivity occurrence, related occurrence, and similar obesity. On average, the direct cost to individuals with diabetes of diet therapy, with a body mass index under 30 kg/m2 and no micro or cardiovascular complications, is $1,700 for men and $2,100 for women per year. An increase in body weight of 10 kg/m2, treatment with oral antidiabetic or antihypertensive drugs, and the presence of diabetic macro- and angiopathy are associated with an increase of 10-30% in the micro cost in each case (Cole & Florez, 2020). Thus, more expensive treatment is required for complications.
Treatment with insulin drug presence, a history of stroke, and myocardial infarction are 60-90% higher in each case. Dialysis procedure exceeds the cost of treatment by 11 times. Oral blood glucose-lowering drugs, first-line therapy for diabetes mellitus 2, measure a relatively high consumption rate of only 2.7% (Cole & Florez, 2020). Insulin, needed in the later stages of the disease, and medications to treat late complications of diabetes mellitus account for 18% to 39% of total costs. This is why possible solutions that reduce costs are required.
Conclusion
The most critical element of achieving success in the primary precluding of diabetes and its complications appears to be the prevention of diabetes. If national programs are implemented, significant clinical and economic benefits can be obtained, potentially reducing national healthcare costs. Immediate control of glycemia and blood pressure levels is needed through the prescription of angiotensin-converting ferment inhibitor drugs (Cole & Florez, 2020). This is essential for the prevention of the development and progression of diabetes and the avoidance of complications. At the same time, it is conceivable to reduce insulin resistance of peripheral tissues through agonist action on PPARγ-receptors (Cole & Florez, 2020). Thus, it will help to reduce patients’ dependence on insulin.
References
Cole, J. B., & Florez, J. C. (2020). Genetics of diabetes mellitus and diabetes complications. Nature Reviews Nephrology, 16(7), 377-390.