New numbers reveal 8.3% of the total world population has diabetes

Today, on World Diabetes Day, new numbers on the prevalence of diabetes have been launched by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). They show that more than 371 million people worldwide have diabetes; an increase by 5 million in just one year. Also, it is predicted that by 2030, more than 556 million people worldwide will have diabetes

The number of people with diabetes is increasing all over the world, but especially in the less developed world the number is rising dramatically, as 4 out of 5 with diabetes now live in low and middle-income countries[1].

“The new numbers are alarming, both because the number of people with diabetes keeps growing, but also because so few of them are in good control of their disease. More awareness, better methods to detect the disease and more effective treatment options are needed to break the curve” says Lars Rebien Sørensen, president and CEO of Novo Nordisk.

The lack of diagnoses and poor blood sugar control significantly increase the risk of developing serious late stage complications such as eye and kidney failure and cardiovascular diseases. It is estimated that a reduction of 1% in the average blood sugar level (HbA1c) decreases diabetes-related deaths by 21%[2].

References

1. www.idf.org
2. UKPDS, Stratton et al BMJ 2000; vol. 321:405-12