Background Information Diabetes mellitus (DM) affects 9% of the European population and the cost of caring for patients with DM accounts for 15% of the European health care budget expenditure. Al-most 90% of patients have type 2 DM, and absolute numbers are expected to rise in parallel to the current obesity and metabolic syndrome epidemic. Improved treatment has reduced mortality but the prolonged duration of DM increases the likelihood of development of late diabetic complications.