The Impact of Diabetes on Vascular Disease: Progress from the Perspective of Epidemics and Treatments

Abstract

At present, the global incidence of diabetes has increased in countries with large populations, and the changes in developing regions are particularly worthy of attention. In the past 40 years or so, the income situation in China, India, and other countries has exploded, leading to changes in the way of life and work as well as an increase in the prevalence of diabetes. Metabolic disorders caused by diabetes can lead to secondary vascular complications, which have long-term malignant effects on the heart, kidneys, brain, and other vital organs of patients. Adequate primary prevention measures are needed to reduce the incidence of diabetic vascular complications, and more attention should be given to treatment after the disease. To this end, it is necessary to determine a standardized drug and physical therapy system and to build a more efficient and low-cost chronic disease management system.

Figure 1

The risk factors for diabetic vascular complications and the decrease in morbidity caused by treatment. Worldwide, the incidence of diabetes has shown an overall upward trend. It is worth noting that there are obvious differences in the incidence of diabetes between different regions, which are presumably caused by differences in economic development, medical care levels, and genetics between regions. Due to an unhealthy diet and lack of exercise, which leads to obesity, current diabetes prevention also needs to pay attention to the effects of dietary changes in some areas, childhood obesity, gestational diabetes, and population aging. Fortunately, better medical treatment can bring about improvements in the incidence of diabetic vascular complications. (For the convenience of observation, the connection between Europe and Asia is split. The data in the picture come from an article that analyzes the changes in IDF and vascular complications [1, 11].)

Figure 2

The prevention, treatment, and management of diabetic vascular complications. A: Diet; B: sport; C: quitting smoking and alcohol; D: health knowledge information; E: regular health examinations; F: diagnostic results; G: report individual risk factors; H: aggregate data analyses; I: treatment plans; J: drugs; K: surgery; L: bypass surgery; M: percutaneous coronary intervention; N: index detection; O: hospital care; P: mobile terminals; Q: cloud database analyses; and R: data-based treatment changes. Before the onset of diabetic vascular complications, diabetic patients can reduce their chances of onset by adjusting their diet, increasing exercise, and abstaining from bad habits. At the same time, they can actively participate in physical examinations and health education lectures. Doctors can actively use mobile phone data during the diagnosis and treatment of diabetic vascular complications to obtain accurate risk factors and help prevent them. At the same time, after the treatment is completed, a low-cost and timely chronic disease management system can be established through mobile devices to reduce the risk of recurrence of vascular complications and improve prevention.