[Epidemiological features of diabetes-related complications]

Chronic diabetes-related complications are frequent and severe, leading to handicaps and increased mortality for the patients and a heavy financial burden for society. Indeed, these complications can be prevented through an improvement in glycaemic and blood pressure control, by using an efficient treatment of dyslipidaemia, and by reducing tobacco consumption. This goal could theoretically be reached now, thanks to more and more powerful drugs, but indeed its achievement needs to improve patient education and to better coordinate diabetes care delivery. In addition, at national level, strategies should be developed to prevent the "epidemic" of type 2 diabetes, in particular by campaigns aiming at promoting physical activity and healthy diet, mainly targeted to children and teenagers.