Diabetes Has Become A Global Epidemic

The International Diabetes Federation accomplished their main objective when the general assembly of the United Nations passed a resolution recognizing the worldwide diabetes epidemic. Diabetes affects 246 million people globally. That number is expected to increase by at least 50% in the next 15 years.

The IDF-led Unite for Diabetes campaign, which has brought together the largest ever diabetes coalition, including patient organizations from over 150 countries, the majority of the world’s scientific and professional diabetes societies, many charitable foundations, service organizations and industry. Thanks to this enthusiastic support, a key battle has been won in the fight against diabetes.

How will clinicians, researchers and diabetics handle the growing epidemic? Education on prevention of the disease is imperative.

Up to 80% of type 2 diabetes is preventable by adopting a healthy diet and increasing physical activity.

Research has been essential in the approval of new medications like Januvia, Janumet and Lantus used to treat diabetes. Where the gap seems to lie is between what we have gained from the research and how we carry it out in clinical practice. Diabetics treatment should consist of behavior modification just as much as proper medications.

Through a gift from Lilly of USD 10 million over the next seven years, the IDF BRIDGES grant programme will fund translational research projects in diabetes. The BRIDGES grant research programme will provide the opportunity to ‘translate’ lessons learned from clinical research to those who can benefit most: people with diabetes. Lessons learned through the supported research projects provide the opportunity to steer, for example, the development of treatment routines and effective behavioural interventions, leading to relevant, evidence-based health care and improved outcomes for people with diabetes.

We have already stated that diabetes is a global health crisis, but did you know it also threatens economic growth? The use of inexpensive preventions and treatments of diabetes are available to the “richer” countries of the world, but unfortunately the wealthier countries are not where the help is needed.

If you can’t afford to eat fresh fruits and vegetables, don’t have clean drinking water and have no access to diet education or preventive health care, how can we expect to prevent type 2 diabetes from developing?

The economic effects of diabetes go beyond the costs that economies need to invest in diagnosis, care and prevention. They include loss of life, disability, the impact on quality of life, the economic impact that the disease has on individuals with diabetes and their families as well as lost economic growth. The global diabetes epidemic is resulting in spiralling health costs.

Every year that passes, almost 7 million people are newly diagnosed with diabetes. The diabetes epidemic will surpass all others in the near future. Did you know diabetics die on the average 5-10 years earlier than non diabetics? At this rate, how can we not afford to educate ourselves on risk factors and lifestyle changes.

International Diabetes Foundation