Diabetes Mellitus

An estimated 17 million people, or roughly 6 percent of the population, in the United States have diabetes mellitus, a disease in which the body does not produce and/or properly use insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas that is needed to convert sugar into energy. Diabetes has become an epidemic with about one million people over 20 years old being diagnosed with the condition each year.

Currently the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, diabetes can cause serious health complications such as blindness, kidney failure, nerve damage and the need for lower-extremity amputations. In addition, diabetes is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, dramatically increasing a person's risk for heart disease and stroke.

UCSF Medical Center is renowned for its outstanding diabetes research, patient care and education. In our research-based Diabetes Center, current research aims to improve treatment and find a cure for the disorder. UCSF scientists were the first to clone the gene that produces insulin in the body, paving the road for mass-produced, recombinant human insulin. Today, our researchers are exploring islet transplantation and gene therapy as treatments that someday may alleviate the need for insulin injections altogether.

In turn, the clinicians at UCSF Medical Center are at the forefront of translating discoveries made by our scientists in the laboratory into new and improved treatments for our patients. In addition, we also provide education for our patients on issues related to diabetes at the UCSF Diabetes Teaching Center, which has offers in-depth workshops on diabetes management and self care.

For information or to make an appointment, please call (415) 353-2350.

To contact the Diabetes Teaching Center, please call (415) 353-2266.

Treatment for diabetes in children is provided by the Pediatric Diabetes Program.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated August 29, 2007