Summary
This 6 Minute English programme discusses the global rise of diabetes, a condition where the body cannot control blood sugar (glucose). Type 2 diabetes is increasing worldwide, mainly due to obesity, unhealthy diets, and lack of physical activity. Modern lifestyles and urbanisation mean that both adults and children are less active, often spending more time sitting indoors and eating processed food.
Diabetes develops gradually, as blood sugar levels increase over time. Even before diabetes develops, high blood sugar can cause serious health problems such as cardiovascular disease.
The financial burden is huge: diabetes costs the world $827 billion every year. Solutions include encouraging healthy eating from childhood, increasing physical activity, and policies such as the sugar tax, which has already reduced sugary drink sales in Mexico.
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🍓Reading Comprehension Questions
1. What is diabetes, and what complications can it cause if untreated?
2. What type of diabetes is increasing most rapidly worldwide?
3. According to the programme, why are people eating less healthily than before?
4. What role do screens and modern technology play in children’s lifestyles compared to the past?
5. What measures have been suggested to tackle the diabetes epidemic?