Expanding the Concept of ‘Clinical Inertia’ in Diabetes

Abstract

The prevalence of diabetes is increasing exponentially all over the world, particularly in developing countries where it is now estimated that 80% of all people with diabetes live. South Asia and the Western Pacific region are now the main epicentres of the diabetes epidemic. Indeed, China and India alone contribute about 40% of all people with diabetes in the world. However, it is not just the numbers of people with diabetes which one is concerned about. More worrisome is the increasing numbers of people with complications of diabetes. Even assuming that a third of people with diabetes would ultimately develop complications, this would mean that several million people are at risk of developing eye, kidney, heart and feet complications of diabetes. It would be virtually impossible for any health system to provide treatment to millions of people with these complications.