Is Diabetes at Pandemic Levels?
Sadly enough diabetes is among the most common metabolic disorders of the modern world.
Based on WHO estimates for the year 2000, it affects about 2.
8 % of the global population or approximately 171 million.
It is projected to reach pandemic proportions and the number of cases is estimated to increase to 366 million by the year 2030.
Diabetes is more common in developed countries but great increases in prevalence is expected to occur in Asia and Africa.
This is due to the rapid westernization and urbanization of developing countries.
Among the three types of diabetes, Type 2 is the most common, comprising about 85-95 % of cases in developed countries and probably more in developing countries.
Type 2 diabetes is predominately caused by age, poor choice of diet and lack of exercise, as people in developing countries aspire to become more and more American they start to spend their disposable income on the fast food that they associate with America.
The nutritional value of these fast foods is not always the best and that contributes to the increase in illness.
Diabetes is more common in older people and the number of persons with diabetes is expected to increase as the elderly population grows.
However, prevalence rates are also rising in the younger age groups, especially in Asia .
The highest numbers are found in North America and the European region.
In the United States , among those 20 years and older, more men (11.
2%; 12 million) than women (10.
2%; 11.
5 million) have diabetes.
In Europe, an estimated 8.
4 % of the adult population have diabetes but the prevalence varies widely between member countries.
In Asia the numbers are in the region of 2.
6 % to 15.
1 % and Asian diabetics are younger than their western counterparts.
As the other medical problems that go along with diabetes start to develop in these developing countries we could see a huge increase in the death rates from heart problems and other problems that may well not occur if we can reduce the amount of diabetics in these countries.
Based on WHO estimates for the year 2000, it affects about 2.
8 % of the global population or approximately 171 million.
It is projected to reach pandemic proportions and the number of cases is estimated to increase to 366 million by the year 2030.
Diabetes is more common in developed countries but great increases in prevalence is expected to occur in Asia and Africa.
This is due to the rapid westernization and urbanization of developing countries.
Among the three types of diabetes, Type 2 is the most common, comprising about 85-95 % of cases in developed countries and probably more in developing countries.
Type 2 diabetes is predominately caused by age, poor choice of diet and lack of exercise, as people in developing countries aspire to become more and more American they start to spend their disposable income on the fast food that they associate with America.
The nutritional value of these fast foods is not always the best and that contributes to the increase in illness.
Diabetes is more common in older people and the number of persons with diabetes is expected to increase as the elderly population grows.
However, prevalence rates are also rising in the younger age groups, especially in Asia .
The highest numbers are found in North America and the European region.
In the United States , among those 20 years and older, more men (11.
2%; 12 million) than women (10.
2%; 11.
5 million) have diabetes.
In Europe, an estimated 8.
4 % of the adult population have diabetes but the prevalence varies widely between member countries.
In Asia the numbers are in the region of 2.
6 % to 15.
1 % and Asian diabetics are younger than their western counterparts.
As the other medical problems that go along with diabetes start to develop in these developing countries we could see a huge increase in the death rates from heart problems and other problems that may well not occur if we can reduce the amount of diabetics in these countries.
Source...