Diabetes
Growing global health threat
Diabetes is a chronic condition that arises when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin (type 1 diabetes), or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin produced (type 2 diabetes). Both are serious and require careful monitoring and control.
Diabetes is a growing global health threat. In 2007, the International Diabetes Federation estimated that there are 246 million people with diabetes around the world. This figure is expected to rise to 333 million by 2025, amounting to 6.3% of the world's population.
Diabetes is now the fourth-leading cause of death in most developed countries. Each year, over three million deaths worldwide are attributable to diabetes-related causes.
- When the body is unable to use insulin, the result is higher levels of glucose in the blood.
- As the ability to use insulin declines, a pre-diabetic condition known as impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) develops.
- Patients diagnosed with IGT can prevent or significantly delay the onset of diabetes by increasing physical activity and improving dietary habits.
- The incidence of diabetes increases with age but it now affects increasingly younger age groups.
- Type 1 diabetes is more prevalent in children and young adults. Patients require injections of insulin to survive.
- In type 2 diabetes, the most common form in the general population, the pancreas is deficient in producing insulin and the body cannot efficiently use the insulin it produces.
- Only 50% of people with type 2 diabetes are aware that they have the condition.
- Diabetes complications include cardiovascular disease, eye troubles, non-traumatic amputation and kidney failure.
- The increase in the incidence of type 2 diabetes is due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
- Lack of exercise, poor eating habits, obesity, hypertension, and smoking are all risk factors that facilitate the development of type 2 diabetes.
- About three-quarters of people first diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are overweight.
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