MONTREAL, QUEBEC, Oct 20, 2009 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- The International
Diabetes Federation (IDF) released new data today showing that a staggering 285
million people worldwide have diabetes. The latest figures from the IDF Diabetes
Atlas indicate that people in low and middle-income countries (LMCs) are bearing
the brunt of the epidemic, and that the disease is affecting far more people of
working age than previously believed.
In 1985, the best data available suggested that 30 million people had diabetes
worldwide. Fast-forward 15 years and the numbers were revised to just over 150
million. Today, less than 10 years on, the new figures - launched at the 20th
World Diabetes Congress in Montreal, Canada - put the number closer to 300
million, with more than half aged between 20 and 60. IDF predicts that, if the
current rate of growth continues unchecked, the total number will exceed 435
million in 2030 - many more people than the current population of North America.
Professor Jean Claude Mbanya, President of the International Diabetes
Federation, voiced concern: "The data from the latest edition of the IDF
Diabetes Atlas show that the epidemic is out of control. We are losing ground in
the struggle to contain diabetes. No country is immune and no country is fully
equipped to repel this common enemy."
Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented. It is an autoimmune disease in which the
body destroys its own insulin-producing cells. People with type 1 diabetes
require daily injections of insulin to survive. The majority of all diabetes is
type 2 diabetes (85%-95%), which in many cases can be prevented. People with
type 2 diabetes cannot use the insulin they produce effectively, but can often
manage their condition through exercise and diet, although many go on to require
medication, including insulin, to properly control blood glucose levels. It is
estimated 60% or more of type 2 diabetes could be prevented.
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes represent a serious health threat. Diabetes
claims four million lives every year and is a leading cause of blindness, kidney
failure, heart attack, stroke and amputation.
Diabetes explodes worldwide
Diabetes now affects seven percent of the world's adult population. The regions
with the highest comparative prevalence rates are North America, where 10.2 % of
the adult population have diabetes, followed by the Middle East and North Africa
Region with 9.3%. The regions with the highest number of people living with
diabetes are Western Pacific, where some 77 million people have diabetes and
South East Asia with 59 million.
India is the country with the most people with diabetes, with a current figure
of 50.8 million, followed by China with 43.2 million. Behind them the United
States (26.8 million); the Russian Federation (9.6 million); Brazil (7.6
million); Germany (7.5 million); Pakistan (7.1 million); Japan (7.1 million);
Indonesia (7 million) and Mexico (6.8 million).
When it comes to the percentage of adult population living with diabetes, the
new data reveal the devastating impact of diabetes across the Gulf Region, where
five of the Gulf States are among the top ten countries affected. The Pacific
island nation of Nauru has the world's highest rate of diabetes, with almost a
third of its adult population (30.9%) living with the disease. It is followed by
the United Arab Emirates (18.7%); Saudi Arabia (16.8%); Mauritius (16.2%);
Bahrain (15.4%); Reunion (15.3%); Kuwait (14.6%); Oman (13.4%); Tonga (13.4%)
and Malaysia (11.6%).
Increasing economic burden
Diabetes has become a development issue. In LMCs, it threatens health and
economic prosperity. IDF predicts that diabetes will cost the world economy at
least US$376 billion in 2010, or 11.6% of total world healthcare expenditure. By
2030, this number is projected to exceed US$490 billion. More than 80% of
diabetes spending is in the world's richest countries and not in the poorer
countries, where over 70 percent of people with diabetes now live.
The United States accounts for $198 billion or 52.7% of total diabetes spending
worldwide. India, which has the largest diabetes population, spends US$2.8
billion or 1% of the global total. In most LMCs, people with diabetes must pay
for their care out of their own pocket because public medical services and
insurance are lacking. The diagnosis of diabetes in a low or middle-income
country can often drag entire families into poverty.
"The world needs to invest in integrated health systems that can diagnose,
treat, manage and prevent diabetes," said Professor Nigel Unwin, who leads the
team of experts behind the IDF Diabetes Atlas. "Governments also need to invest
in actions outside the formal health sector, particularly in promoting healthier
diets and physical activity, to reduce obesity and the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Without effective prevention diabetes will overwhelm health systems and hinder
economic growth."
Integrating plans for the prevention of diabetes into national health systems
and policy frameworks is an important part of the response. IDF warns that many
health systems worldwide are not yet equipped to handle the extent of the
diabetes threat, and that failure to take action will have serious consequences.
"The epidemic represents nothing short of a global health emergency," said IDF
President Mbanya. "It is alarming that world leaders stand by while the diabetes
fuse slowly burns. The serious impact on families, countries and economies
continues with little resistance. Governments, aid agencies and the
international community must take concerted action to defuse the threat now,
before the diabetes time bomb explodes."
Journalists can access relevant images and data charts online from the IDF
Diabetes Atlas, 4th edition at www.diabetesatlas.org. Website available from
October 19 at 12:30 pm EDT or contact Kerrita McClaughlyn in advance at mobile
+32 487 530 625.
Broadcast journalists should contact Colin McCallum at Rockhopper TV +44 208 969
1616 or mobile +44 7941 233760 to access relevant broadcast material.
Note to Editors:
The IDF Diabetes Atlas provides up-to-date estimates of diabetes prevalence and
impaired glucose tolerance, and health expenditures for 216 countries and
territories for the years 2010 and 2030.
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is an umbrella organization of over
200 member associations in more than 160 countries, representing over 285
million people with diabetes, their families, and their healthcare providers.
The mission of IDF is to promote diabetes care, prevention and a cure worldwide.
Its main activities include education for people with diabetes and healthcare
professionals, public awareness campaigns and the promotion and exchange of
information. IDF is a non-governmental organization in official relations with
WHO and associated to the United Nations' Department of Public Information. IDF
organizes the World Diabetes Congress every two years. For more information,
please visit www.idf.org
Contacts:
International Diabetes Federation
Kerrita McClaughlyn, Media Relations Manager
Mobile: +32 487-530-625.
IDF Press Room (Montreal): +1 514-789-3407
and +1 514-789-3409
media@idf.org
SOURCE: International Diabetes Federation (IDF)
CONTACT: mailto:media@idf.org