Health outcomes beyond glucose control.
Direct and indirect costs for diabetes mellitus place a large economic burden on the US healthcare system. Diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are closely interrelated, and it is estimated that much of the burden of CVD too is attributable to diabetes. Insulin resistance may be the common link between diabetes and CVD, often manifested clinically as the metabolic syndrome. The thiazolidinediones (TZDs) reduce insulin resistance and have favorable effects on lipids, blood pressure, and other cardiovascular risk factors. Large clinical trials have shown that early, aggressive intervention with lifestyle changes and pharmacotherapy with TZDs and other agents may slow progression to overt diabetes in high-risk patients and reduce the risk of cardiovascular and other complications; this could reduce healthcare resource utilization and costs.
Balasubramanyam
Ashok
A
Translational Metabolism Unit, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000191:economics; D019468:Disease Management; D005947:Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D045162:Thiazolidinediones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014481:United States
D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D005947:Glucose