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World Diabetes Day – November 14, 2015To mark World Diabetes Day, the INVS is publishing a special issue of the Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin. Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia (excessively high blood sugar levels) linked to a deficiency in insulin secretion or action, or both. There are two main forms of diabetes: type 1, which primarily affects children or young adults (6% of cases), and type 2, the most common form (92%), which primarily affects adults but can also develop in adolescence. There are other forms, such as gestational diabetes (which occurs during pregnancy and generally resolves after childbirth), or cases of diabetes resulting from specific medical conditions or genetic factors. Screening is performed on an empty stomach via a blood test to measure blood glucose levels. An abnormal result (greater than 1.26 g/L or 7 mmol/L) must be confirmed by a second test. As the disease progresses, diabetes can lead to serious complications affecting the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves.In 2013, in France, more than 3 million people were treated with medication (oral antidiabetics and/or insulin) for diabetes, representing 4.7% of the population. Among them, 11,737 were hospitalized for a myocardial infarction (2.2 times more than in the non-diabetic population), 17,148 for a stroke (1.6 times higher), 20,493 for a foot ulcer (5 times higher), 7,749 for a lower limb amputation (7 times higher), and 4,256 began renal replacement therapy for end-stage chronic kidney disease (9 times higher).Regional disparities in the prevalence of pharmacologically treated diabetes remained significant, with a gradient increasing from the southwest to the northeast. Burgundy and Franche-Comté fall within the average range of 4.6% and 5.2% prevalence. The incidence of severe diabetes complications was significantly higher in the overseas departments and in certain metropolitan regions (Northeast), as well as among beneficiaries of the complementary universal health coverage (CMU-C). Compliance with recommended diabetes monitoring tests has improved since 2001, but there is still significant room for improvement. Biological monitoring (measurement of glycated hemoglobin, lipids, microalbuminuria, and creatinine) was virtually similar regardless of socioeconomic status. In contrast, clinical monitoring (dental, ophthalmology, and cardiology consultations) was less frequent among the most socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals.