Continuing diabetes care--Rhode Island, 1991.

The annual economic impact of diabetes mellitus in the United States is an estimated $92 billion, primarily reflecting the treatment of both acute (e.g., diabetic ketoacidosis and hypoglycemic coma) and chronic (e.g., atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, blindness, renal failure, neuropathy, and amputation of extremities) complications. The complications of diabetes may be prevented or delayed through intensive treatment and through early detection and treatment of complications. To characterize continuing care of diabetes in Rhode Island in 1991, the Rhode Island Department of Health initiated a Diabetes Care Survey (DCS) in conjunction with its statewide Health Interview Survey (HIS) in 1990. This report summarizes the results of that survey.