According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, type 2 diabetes continues to sweep across the nation, with an estimated 24 million people struggling with the disease. This number is up by more than three million people since 2005. With this epidemic, there is an increase in kidney disease, heart disease, stroke, blindness and amputations.
 
Doctors are trying to slow down the increase of diabetes by encouraging the public to adopt healthy lifestyle changes and pushing researchers to develop new drugs to help people manage their diabetes more effectively. Unfortunately, many Americans are slow to use these tools, especially lifestyle changes, despite evidence they are effective.

This article originally appeared in the February 2009 issue of Kidney Beginnings: The Electronic Newsletter.