Diabetes: A Multifaceted Disorder

Abstract

Diabetes is a chronic disease associated with increased morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular diseases cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and kidney or liver disease. Despite the fact that aging is the main risk factor for the onset and progressionof type 2 diabetes mellitus (the most common type of diabetes), in recent decades, age-standardized all-cause mortality in the population with type 2 diabetes has fallen morethan in the general population. However, age-specific data indicate that this trend in the total diabetes population is predominantly influenced by trends in those aged 80 or more years. The figures observed in those younger than 80 years indicate that improvements in the management of diabetes and its complications may not have translated into a direct prevention of premature deaths related to type 2 diabetes.