Despite the advances and discoveries in treating type 2 diabetes, it seems that the battle rages on in trying to curb down the silent epidemic. Unfortunately, it remains a losing battle so far. There is a long way to go before this epidemic can be controlled. Recent reports state that the cases of type 2 diabetes worldwide have increased.
According to the latest estimate from the International Diabetes Federation, there are currently around 382 million people living with diabetes around the world. This is equivalent to around 8.4 percent of the worldwide adult population. In 2012, there were around 371 million cases reported. The latest estimate is considered a new record, according to the medical experts who monitor the disease and its prevalence in different countries.
“The battle to protect people from diabetes and its disabling, life-threatening complications is being lost,” the federation states in the sixth edition of its Diabetes Atlas. The organization forecasts that the number will further soar by 55 percent to 592 million by 2035. Currently, deaths resulting from diabetes stand at around 5.1 million annually. That is around one death for every six seconds.
Diabetes is a disease characterized by the body not being able to process glucose in the blood properly. It can lead to several dangerous complications such as damage to the heart, kidneys and the eyes. If it is left untreated, it can lead to premature death. Type 2 diabetes is the more common type of the disease that has affected millions of people all over the world. This type of diabetes is linked to obesity and lack of exercise.
With the incidence of the disease continuing to spread and grow, medical experts are hoping to create a strategy that will involve the society as a whole. Medical treatment alone may not be sufficient to control the epidemic from getting worse. People need to learn more about improving their diets and making regular exercise as a habit in order to help curb down the disease. Spreading information about the disease is also key since there is an estimated 175 million cases of diabetes that remain undiagnosed. There are this many people who are not aware that they have the disease and may be at a bigger risk of progressing into the complications that can lead to death.
Tags: diabetes cases, Diabetes News, diabetes worldwide, number of diabetics, silent epidemic, type 2 diabetes