Related Health Problems Drop for Diabetics

Americans with diabetes are much less likely to develop further health problems than they were 20 years ago, a new study finds. But the actual number of people with diabetes has more than tripled. The study used data from several national surveys and databases. It found that the number of people with diabetes jumped from 6.5 million in 1990 to 20.7 million in 2010. About 95% of the cases were type 2 diabetes. This type is closely related to obesity. Diabetics are 6 times as likely to develop kidney disease as people without the disease. They are 10 times as likely to have an amputation. But rates of these and other health problems among diabetics have dropped dramatically since 1990, the study found. Heart attack rates declined nearly 70%. Deaths from extremely high blood sugar dropped 65%. Rates of amputation (leg or foot) and stroke fell about 50% each.