The Present Condition of Diabetes and Its Treatment -From the Perspective of a Hospital Pharmacist

In Japan, the number of diabetic patients has increased steadily. According to a 2007 report by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the number of diabetic patients and its reserves is estimated to be 22 million, or a fifth of adults. On a global scale, the number of deaths due to diabetes is almost equivalent to that due to AIDS. Therefore, in 2006, WHO designated November 14 as World Diabetes Day and began a worldwide campaign to increase people's awareness of diabetes. Diabetic patients usually fluctuate between good and bad data of SMBG (self-monitoring of blood glucose). However, the main goal of diabetes treatment is to not only keep good data of SMBG but also prevent diabetes-related complications from arising, because such complications have a major impact on patients' QOL and medical costs. At medical institutions, CDEJs (Certified Diabetes Educator of Japan, a qualification awarded to health care professionals such as nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, laboratory technicians, and physiotherapists) provide information to diabetic patients in order to increase their knowledge of the disease; such professionals also assist with patients' medical treatments. I would like to discuss frequently used diabetes medications, the latest treatments for diabetes, the problems faced by diabetic patients, and so on, from the perspective of a hospital pharmacist.