ABSTRACT
Diabetes is one of the oldest known diseases. Earliest records of diabetes can be traced to 400 BC. Ancient physicians noted that the urine of diabetic individuals had a sweet taste. “Mellitus” is the Latin word for honey and refers to the sweetness of the urine, which provided a test for this disease. Diabetes mellitus is often present with other diseases such as heart disease or hypertension. According to the latest data from the American Diabetes Association (ADA; https://www.diabetes.org/ diabetes-basics), diabetes affects 23.6 million people, nearly 7.8% of all adults and children in the United States. Diabetes is 50% more common in females, and the prevalence is greater in blacks than whites; however, males appear to have a greater likelihood for developing type 1 diabetes. The overall economic impact of this disease is in the billions of dollars each year. The latest ADA cost analysis reports that the economic cost of diabetes in 2007 exceeded $174 billion. The health care cost for persons with diabetes is 2.3 times more than for those without diabetes. For more information regarding the cost of diabetes by state, visit the ADA Web site (https://www.diabetesarchive.net/advocacy-and-legalresources/cost-of-diabetes.jsp).
