347 million people worldwide have diabetes.

50% of people with diabetes die of cardiovascular disease (primarily heart disease and stroke).

In 2004, an estimated 3.4 million people died from consequences of fasting high blood sugar. A similar number of deaths has been estimated for 2010.

More than 80% of diabetes deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.

One percent of global blindness can be attributed to diabetes.

Diabetes is among the leading causes of kidney failure.

The overall risk of dying among people with diabetes is at least double the risk of their peers without diabetes.

Over time, diabetes can damage the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves.

Combined with reduced blood flow, neuropathy (nerve damage) in the feet increases the chance of foot ulcers, infection and eventual need for limb amputation.

Diabetic retinopathy is a major cause of blindness, and occurs as a result of long-term accumulated damage to the small blood vessels in the retina.