Diabetes is a silent killer that today kills one person every 10 seconds. It is a global drama with devastating human, social and economic impacts. New data recently released by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) indicate that more than 230 million people worldwide are living with diabetes, and that this number is sadly expected to rise to over 350 million by 2025 if no action is taken.1
Diabetes is a silent killer that today kills one person every 10 seconds. It is a global drama with devastating human, social and economic impacts. New data recently released by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) indicate that more than 230 million people worldwide are living with diabetes, and that this number is sadly expected to rise to over 350 million by 2025 if no action is taken.1
European Endocrine Disease 2006 starts this year with an article highlighting how diabetes hits the disadvantaged and the vulnerable hardest. Today 70% of diabetes cases are in low- and middle-income countries. In addition, there is strong evidence that in developed countries, socioeconomic factors such as low income and poverty are linked to the accelerated spread of type 2 diabetes.
To do nothing is no longer an option. IDF just launched a campaign for a United Nations Resolution on diabetes, aiming at raising awareness and seeking recognition among policy decision makers of the global public health challenge at their door. Led by IDF, the “Unite for Diabetes” campaign involves all stakeholders in a concerted effort.2 One among the many objectives is the implementation of cost-effective strategies for the prevention of diabetes and of its complications.
This issue of European Endocrine Disease 2006 includes an article on primary prevention of type 2 diabetes as well as several articles on various aspects of diabetes management in order to prevent the occurrence of complications. These include tight blood glucose control both in the basal and the postprandial state. An article deals with the possibility of administering insulin through the pulmonary route.
Further sections are devoted to specific aspects of the treatment of diabetes such as the role of pancreatic islet dysfunction in the onset and progression of type 2 diabetes, the alpha cell function in type 2 diabetes, new and upcoming therapies focussing on GLP-1 and DPP-IV inhibitors, as well as the role of incretin mimetics.
If, despite good diabetes management complications set in, they must be managed effectively. Every 30 seconds, for example, a leg is lost to diabetes. In order to curb this rate, it is crucial that diabetic foot complications are diagnosed early and treated adequately. European Endocrine Disease 2006 includes a section on diabetic neuropathy and the management of foot ulceration in the person with diabetes. Another section deals with the management of erectile dysfunction.
While much of European Endocrine Disease 2006 is devoted to the prevention and treatment of diabetes and its complications, there are also sections dealing with other important endocrinology topics. These include hyperprolactinaemia, the medical management of acromegaly and growth hormone deficiency. Finally, a section is devoted to hormone replacement therapy and analyses its risks and benefits, whilst another is devoted to testosterone replacement therapy.
We wish you an enjoyable read! ■
