The number of seniors with diabetes jumped roughly 23% between the years 1993-1994 and 2003-2004, according to a recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Even though diabetes can lead to serious complications, such as congestive heart failure, the study showed that the death rate for patients diagnosed with diabetes decreased by 8.3%. The study used Medicare claims and other data to examine trends in the rates of diabetes and its complications.

Diabetes care cost the United States around $174 billion in 2007, according to the American Diabetes Association. About half the treatment cost came in the form of inpatient care. The cost of routine care to treat the condition is relatively low, the ADA reported last month.