THE DIABETES PREDICAMENT: EXAMINING INADEQUATE CARE IN TYPE-2 DIABETES MANAGEMENT NATIONWIDE

Abstract

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2D) is a widespread epidemic in the United States, affecting over 30 million Americans, with an additional 34% of adults classified as prediabetic. A T2D diagnosis is linked to a 10-year decrease in life expectancy and an added $9,600 in direct medical expenses per patient. Inadequate T2D management can lead to diabetes-related complications, both microvascular (nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy) and macrovascular (heart disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease). The consequences of poor T2D management are dire, as individuals with T2D are twice as likely to succumb to cardiovascular disease compared to those without T2D. Therefore, effective T2D management necessitates not only diabetes control but also the screening and treatment of diabetes-related complications.