2000年,全球糖尿病患病率估计为2.8%。[3]Wild S, Roglic G, Green A, et al. Global prevalence of diabetes: estimates for the year 2000 and projections for 2030. Diabetes Care. 2004;27:1047-1053.http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/27/5/1047.fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15111519?tool=bestpractice.com在英国和美国,伴随着肥胖和超重,2型糖尿病的患病率已上升。[4]DeFronzo RA. Pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Med Clin North Am. 2004;88:787-835.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15308380?tool=bestpractice.com[5]Gregg EW, Li Y, Wang J, et al. Changes in diabetes-related complications in the United States, 1990-2010. N Engl J Med. 2014;370:1514-1523.http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1310799#t=articlehttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24738668?tool=bestpractice.com在美国总人口中,男性和女性的糖尿病终生风险现为 40%,在美国黑人人口中,该风险为 50%。[5]Gregg EW, Li Y, Wang J, et al. Changes in diabetes-related complications in the United States, 1990-2010. N Engl J Med. 2014;370:1514-1523.http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1310799#t=articlehttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24738668?tool=bestpractice.com约9.3%的美国人口患有糖尿病。Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): 2014 National Diabetes Statistics Report2型糖尿病占所有糖尿病患者的90%,在血糖水平检测异常时,临床发病前常有胰岛素抵抗和多年的高胰岛素血症。[4]DeFronzo RA. Pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Med Clin North Am. 2004;88:787-835.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15308380?tool=bestpractice.com2 型糖尿病患者出现并发超重或肥胖(80% 至 90%)、血脂异常(>90%)和高血压 (70%) 的风险非常高。如果40岁时被诊断为糖尿病,则男性平均失去5.8年的寿命,而女性则平均失去6.8年寿命,这突出了预防糖尿病的重要性。[5]Gregg EW, Li Y, Wang J, et al. Changes in diabetes-related complications in the United States, 1990-2010. N Engl J Med. 2014;370:1514-1523.http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1310799#t=articlehttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24738668?tool=bestpractice.com但是,如果能够实现并维持中度葡萄糖和血压控制,那么糖尿病对老年患者寿命的影响将会大大降低。