Diabetes Research is Important

Diabetes is a very serious condition that affects thepopulation over the age of 60 suffered from a
lives of millions of people in this country alone. Billions ofconfirmed diabetes diagnosis, for both men and
dollars every year are spent in the treatment andwomen. It also suggested that number rises to upward
research of this disease every year in researchof 20% when estimated undiagnosed cases were
centers around the world. And the Utah Diabetesincluded. Furthermore, it is estimated that as many as
Center is the center of diabetes research in Salt Lake110,000 residents of Utah, while not suffering from
City.full-blown diabetes, do meet the criteria for IGT
The Utah Diabetes Center is located near the(Impaired Glucose Tolerance) which is a common
University of Utah Hospital, a major center medicalprecursor to developing the disease.
research in its own right. The diabetes center is aThis same study also found that deaths due to or
self-proclaimed "one stop shop" for the treatment ofcontributed to diabetes have been steadily rising in
the disease through all stages of life, from childhoodUtah over the last couple of decades. In 1988,
through adulthood. They employ a staff of some ofapproximately 20 in every 100,000 residents died from
the best diabetes specialists in the nation and arediabetes or diabetes complications. By 1998 that
dedicated to finding new, more effective ways ofnumber had grown to just over 33 people per 100,000;
treating and eventually finding a cure for this disease.and the trend appears to be continuing. Considering the
Many doctors and scientists decide to performnational average in 1998 was only about 24 persons in
diabetes research in Salt Lake City because Utah has100,000, the advantage of establishing diabetes
one of the highest occurrence rates of the diseaseresearch in Salt Lake City becomes more obvious.
that can be found anywhere in the country. A studyDiabetes research is important to the health of millions
performed by the Utah Department of Health inof people, and regardless of where it's being done, the
November of 2000 found that over 10% of the state'send goal is to eradicate this disease once and for all.