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U.S. Diabetes Population Grows 86 Percent Over Last Decade

Posted: Thursday, March 16, 2006

Research reveals diabetes complications are widespread and growing, and patients desire to gain better control.

There was a steady growth in the number of newly-diagnosed diabetes patients in the United States in 2005, with an additional 1.1 million patients bringing the total patient population to 14.5 million. And while the majority of these patients engage in regular blood testing and treatment therapies, GfK Market

Measures' Roper U.S. Diabetes Patient Market Study reveals that achieving control over the disease remains difficult and resulting complications in the health of diabetes sufferers are widespread and growing.

Research results show treatment therapies and blood testing practices within the diabetes population remain similar to 2004 figures, with 61 percent of patients participating in the study reporting to be exclusive pill users, 30 percent as insulin users and nine percent as non-medicators, together with 88 percent reporting as regular blood glucose testers. Despite these treatments and monitoring, results reveal that achieving blood glucose control remains difficult for diabetes patients, as reported incidences of high glucose measurements suggest problems and 87 percent of respondents report they would like to be in better control of their disease.

Other highlights from the GfK Market Measures study indicate that further health complications from diabetes are prevalent and on the rise. The proportion of total patients experiencing cardiovascular and microvascular problems (76 and 79 percent, respectively) has increased since 2001, with a particular note that the increase in these same health complications is even higher among insulin patients.

"The impact of these added health problems is reflected in diabetes patients' attitudes toward their disease, particularly among insulin users who are more likely than those on other treatments to regard their diabetes as 'severe.' In addition, fewer than three in 10 patients in total consider themselves to be in 'excellent' or 'good' health," said David Jacobson, Senior Vice President of GfK Market Measures' Roper Global Diabetes Program.

Further key findings from the study point to growing trends in sources of information for these patients. When seeking sources of information and education on diabetes, the Internet appears to be used rather infrequently, with the majority of study respondents reporting Web activity less often than once a week. Conversely, nearly half of patients are turning to diabetes magazines and other general media sources for information, with an increase in reported use of these media over 2004 figures.

This particular study focused on the U.S. diabetes population. The research is based on in-depth telephone interviews with a nationally-representative sample of 2,008 diagnosed diabetes patients, conducted between July 7 and September 18, 2005.

Source: Diabetes In Control