{1. Instead of dancing around the problem, people need to get on the LC
bandwagon.
2. It's amazing how few folks manage to achieve control WITHOUT pills or
insulin.
3. That, IMO, is due to in large part bad advice from medical authories.
- RZ}

http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=3529

Research reveals diabetes complications are widespread and growing, and
patients desire to gain better control.

There was a steady growth in the number of newly-diagnosed diabetes patients
in the United States in 2005, with an additional 1.1 million patients
bringing the total population to 14.5 million. And while the majority of
these patients engage in regular blood testing and treatment therapies, GfK
Market Measures' Roper U.S. Diabetes Patient Market Study reveals that
achieving control over the disease remains difficult and resulting
complications in the health of diabetes sufferers are widespread and
growing.

Research results show treatment therapies and blood testing practices within
the diabetes population remain similar to 2004 figures, with 61 percent of
patients participating in the study reporting to be exclusive pill users, 30
percent as insulin users and nine percent as non-medicators, together with
88 percent reporting as regular blood glucose testers. Despite these
treatments and monitoring, results reveal that achieving blood glucose
control remains difficult for diabetes patients, as reported incidences of
high glucose measurements suggest problems and 87 percent of respondents
report they would like to be in better control of their disease.

Other highlights from the GfK Market Measures study indicate that further
health complications from diabetes are prevalent and on the rise. The
proportion of total patients experiencing cardiovascular and microvascular
problems (76 and 79 percent, respectively) has increased since 2001, with a
particular note that the increase in these same health complications is even
higher among insulin patients.

"The impact of these added health problems is reflected in diabetes
patients' attitudes toward their disease, particularly among insulin users
who are more likely than those on other treatments to regard their diabetes
as 'severe.' In addition, fewer than three in 10 patients in total consider
themselves to be in 'excellent' or 'good' health," said David Jacobson,
Senior Vice President of GfK Market Measures' Roper Global Diabetes Program.

Further key findings from the study point to growing trends in sources of
information for these patients. When seeking sources of information and
education on diabetes, the Internet appears to be used rather infrequently,
with the majority of study respondents reporting Web activity less often
than once a week. Conversely, nearly half of patients are turning to
diabetes magazines and other general media sources for information, with an
increase in reported use of these media over 2004 figures.
This particular study focused on the U.S. diabetes population. The research
is based on in-depth telephone interviews with a nationally-representative
sample of 2,008 diagnosed diabetes patients, conducted between July 7 and
September 18, 2005.