ABSTRACT
Diabetes mellitus is a disease characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia (high blood glucose concentration). Over time hyperglycaemia is associated with significant damage to blood vessel walls throughout the body leading to a variety of complications which impair the quality of life and reduce life expectancy The main cause of premature mortality with diabetes is cardiovascular disease. Moreover, diabetes treatment accounts for 9% and 14% respectively of the total healthcare budgets of the UK and US. The global prevalence of diabetes is approximately 3% but it is rising. The prevalence is higher in developed than developing countries and diabetes is the fourth or fifth leading cause of death in most Western countries.
