Background: It is estimated that about 10.5% of the US population (34.2 million individuals) have diabetes.[2]
The total estimated direct and indirect costs of diabetes diagnosed in the US increased from $ 188 billion in 2012 to $ 327 billion in 2017.[2]
That year, diabetes was the leading cause of end-stage kidney disease and currently affects about 20% of patients with diabetes.[3]
Diabetic retinopathy is seen in almost 50% of patients with diabetes and is currently the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults aged 18 to 64 years. years.[2. 4]
Diabetes has a high health cost, as it is a disease that if not detected and treated in time and regularly, causes serious complications such as cardiovascular disease, blindness, kidney disease, leg amputations, etc. 800 deaths every year in Albania are caused by Diabetes.
In a 2004 study in Albania (ALBDIAB project 2004), the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes was approximately 1.5% of the adult population, which means that the number of diabetics was approximately 35,000. 75,000 people were treated with diabetes, of which over 25,000 were treated with insulin.
Every year in Albania, approximately 3-4 thousand new cases of diabetes and 50-60 children are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. But we have a large number of cases still undiagnosed and with prediabetes.
Even from preliminary Check-up data, the prevalence of undiagnosed Diabetes was approximately 4% and about 6% of participants were previously diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus.
Diabetes is often associated with short-term and long-term complications, including foot complications, diabetic kidney disease, diabetic neuropathy, and diabetic retinopathy.
Keywords: Diabetes, Complications, foot complications, Surgery, Amputation