10 facts about diabetes – by WHO

Written by Dr.Johnson | Category : facts and statistics

1. There is an increasing global epidemic of diabetes that can be traced back to rapid increases in overweight, physical inactivity and obesity.

2. Total deaths due to diabetes are predicted to increase by more than 50 percent in the next ten years. Most notably, they are projected to increase by above 75-80 percent in upper-middle income countries.

3. Type 1 diabetes is caused by a lack of insulin production and type 2 diabetes resulted due ineffective use of insulin by body.

4. Type 2 diabetes is more common when compared to type 1 diabetes, and it accounts for around 90 percent of all the diabetes in the world

5. Reports of children having type 2 diabetes – previously rare – have increased worldwide. In some of the countries, it accounts for almost around half or more than half of newly diagnosed cases in adolescents and children.

6. A 3rd type of diabetes is a gestational diabetes. It is characterized by hyperglycemia (raised blood sugar), which is first identified during the pregnancy.

7. In 2005, around 1.1 million people died due to diabetes. The complete effect is much more, although people may live with diabetes, their main cause of death is most often recorded as kidney failure or heart diseases .

8. Note that 80 percent of deaths due to diabetes are now occurring in middle and low income countries.

9. Lack of knowledge on diabetes, along with insufficient access to health care services, may lead to severe complications such as amputation, kidney failure and blindness.

10. Diabetes can be prevented and controlled. Thirty to forty minutes of moderate physical activity on most days and a nutritious healthy diet can effectively reduce the risk of getting type 2 diabetes.