A
study conducted by researchers from Imperial College London and Harvard
University reveals that the number of adults with diabetes worldwide has more
than doubled since 1980. The total number of people with all forms of the
disease has risen from 153 million to 347 million.
The
study highlights the need for better detection and treatment of diabetes to
combat this alarming rise. The authors attribute 70% of the increase to people
living longer. The prevalence of diabetes has either risen or remained stable
in almost every country examined, and the United States had the highest
prevalence among developed nations, while western Europe had relatively lower
rates.
The
study predicts that spending on diabetes medicines, which already amounts to
£22 billion annually, could reach £30 billion by 2015. The researchers urge the
development of better programs for detecting elevated blood sugar levels and
helping individuals control their weight to alleviate the burden on healthcare
systems worldwide.
Diabetes
is a chronic condition that leads to inadequate blood sugar control,
potentially causing kidney damage, blindness, heart disease, and strokes. The
risk factors for Type 2 diabetes include being overweight, of South Asian or
Black origin, being over 40 years old, or having a family history of the
condition.
The
study emphasizes the importance of early detection through blood tests, as many
individuals may have Type 2 diabetes without realizing it.