The global burden of diabetes and its complications is increasing rapidly, driven by population aging, rising obesity and inactivity, and improved diabetes management. Type 2 diabetes is a major global cause of premature mortality, with approximately 50% of patients dying from cardiovascular causes and 10% from renal failure. By 2025, it is projected that 380 million people will have type 2 diabetes and 418 million will have impaired glucose tolerance. The vascular complications of type 2 diabetes account for the majority of the social and economic burden. Diabetic complications include macrovascular issues such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease, and microvascular complications such as nephropathy, retinopathy, and neuropathy. Diabetic nephropathy is a leading cause of end-stage renal disease in many developed countries. Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of blindness among people aged 30–69 years. Diabetic neuropathy and lower limb amputations are also significant complications. The economic costs of diabetes are high, with global health expenditure on diabetes and its complications reaching approximately 232 billion US dollars in 2007, projected to exceed 302 billion by 2025. The burden of diabetes is unevenly distributed, with most costs attributed to cardiovascular complications. The identification of effective strategies for the control of diabetes and its complications is a public health priority.The global burden of diabetes and its complications is increasing rapidly, driven by population aging, rising obesity and inactivity, and improved diabetes management. Type 2 diabetes is a major global cause of premature mortality, with approximately 50% of patients dying from cardiovascular causes and 10% from renal failure. By 2025, it is projected that 380 million people will have type 2 diabetes and 418 million will have impaired glucose tolerance. The vascular complications of type 2 diabetes account for the majority of the social and economic burden. Diabetic complications include macrovascular issues such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease, and microvascular complications such as nephropathy, retinopathy, and neuropathy. Diabetic nephropathy is a leading cause of end-stage renal disease in many developed countries. Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of blindness among people aged 30–69 years. Diabetic neuropathy and lower limb amputations are also significant complications. The economic costs of diabetes are high, with global health expenditure on diabetes and its complications reaching approximately 232 billion US dollars in 2007, projected to exceed 302 billion by 2025. The burden of diabetes is unevenly distributed, with most costs attributed to cardiovascular complications. The identification of effective strategies for the control of diabetes and its complications is a public health priority.