An article published in The New England Journal of Medicine identifies that rates of diabetes-related complications have declined substantially in the past two decades. The researchers examined trends in the incidence of diabetes-related complications in the United States from 1990 through 2010. Data of incidences of lower-extremity amputation, end-stage renal disease, acute myocardial infarction, stroke and death from hyperglycemic crisis were compared.

Rates of all five complications declined between 1990 and 2010, with the largest relative declines in acute myocardial infarction (−67.8%) and death from hyperglycemic crisis (−64.4%), followed by stroke and amputations, which each declined by approximately half (−52.7% and −51.4%, respectively).

The smallest decline was in end-stage renal disease (−28.3%).The greatest absolute decline was in the number of cases of acute myocardial infarction and the smallest absolute decline was in the number of deaths from hyperglycemic crisis.

Rate reductions were larger among adults with diabetes than among adults without diabetes, leading to a reduction in the relative risk of complications associated with diabetes. The researchers concluded that but a large burden of disease still persists because of the continued increase in the prevalence of diabetes.

Editors’ note: It should be stated that unfortunately due to lack of comprehensive care and education in India, both the prevalence rates and complications due to diabetes are increasing.