[logicchains]

Unfortunately, the poor in America are more affected by 'lifestyle diseases' (smoking and obesity related illnesses, for instance), which may be more difficult to cure as they need to be addressed from a social angle, not just a medical one.

[tsotha]

More difficult than malaria or AIDS? I doubt it. Diabetes will probably be a much easier nut to crack than either, with or without lifestyle changes.

[logicchains]

Well according to some graphs I found on Google, malaria mortality rates have reduced significantly in the past few decades [1], as have AIDS death rates [2]. Diabetes rates and mortality have however been continuously increasing.

1. http://www.umich.edu/~csfound/545/1995/land05.jpg

2. http://www.drugabuse.gov/sites/default/files/images/colorbox...

[tsotha]

So diabetes should be the easiest one to attack.

[logicchains]

How might it be attacked, from a medicinal perspective?

[tsotha]

We already have at least one drug that increases sensitivity to insulin. There's room for improvement, though.

Also, artificial pancreases are in the trial stage.