Diabetologia Doświadczalna i Kliniczna 2008, tom 8, nr 3

The diagnostic criteria, needed to differentiate between types of diabetes, seemed clear not so long ago. However, there is an increasing body of evidence describing cases of diabetes that can not be unambiguously classified [1]. The reports analyzing difficulties in distinguishing between type 1 and type 2 diabetes came lately into view...

Type 2 diabetes is caused by a complex of pathophysiological processes, in which environmental factors, as well as genetic predispositions are responsible for developing of this condition [1]. According to study published in “Diabetes Care” in year 2000 the total number of affected subjects was 171 million and estimated number of people with this disorder in year 2030 will reach 366 million [2]...

Obesity is a disease which poses a very serious threat for patient’s health and life. Diseases like diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia occur more often among obese people than those with proper body mass [1]. Each of these diseases increases the risk of occurringcoronary disease. In case of their coexistence, the risk rises several times [1]...

In the treatment of many chronic disease such as diabetes, education plays a very significant role. Patient’s knowledge about his disease is extremely important in its treatment and it can result in preventing chronic diabetes complications or delaying their occurrence [1, 2]...

Over 50,000 major amputations related to diabetes were reported in literature in the United States during just one year. St. Vincent Declaration mandated the signatories to reduce the incidence of diabetic complications within 5 years, including reduction by half the number of amputations resulting from diabetic foot...

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is the second to asthma most frequent chronic disease of children and adolescents and is estimated to affect approximately 430,000 children < 15 years of age with 65,000 new cases being diagnosed every year [1]. The occurrence of diabetes mellitus in children below 10 years of age has been of considerable concern in the recent years [2, 3]...

Despite the progress in the treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus its chronic complications continue to be the main cause of early disability and mortality, incapability to render work and deterioration of the quality of life. The main factors leading to chronic complications include: duration of treatment, metabolic control, but most of all chronic hyperglycaemia. Intensive insulin therapy and improved monitoring of diabetes have been proved to reduce the risk of microvascular complications [1]...