Burden of Illness in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

An estimated 30.2 million Americans have diabetes, and this number is expected to increase based on trends over recent decades and compounded by an aging U.S. population. As reviewed in this article, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and with a substantial socioeconomic burden. Compared with individuals without T2DM, those with T2DM have worse HRQoL, greater decrements in HRQoL over time, and possibly greater depressive symptomology. Diabetes-related complications and comorbidities (e.g., obesity and cardiovascular disease) are associated with worse HRQoL. Hypoglycemic episodes are associated with reduced HRQoL and greater levels of depression; they can also interfere with social and occupational activities. In turn, low HRQoL can be a driver for poor glycemic control. In 2012, the total estimated cost associated with diagnosed diabetes in the United States was $245 billion. Factors contributing to increased health care resource utilization ...