3.2 million deaths can be attributed to
diabetes each year according to a new publication released today by the
World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) to mark the launch of their joint programme "Diabetes Action Now". Updated estimates suggest that six deaths can be attributed to diabetes or related conditions somewhere in the world every minute, a figure three times higher than previous calculations.
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"Diabetes is a major threat to global public health that is rapidly getting worse and the biggest impact is on adults of working age in developing countries," said Dr Catherine Le Galès-Camus, WHO Assistant-Director General, Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health. "In most developing countries at least one in ten deaths in adults aged 35 to 64 is attributable to diabetes, and in some the figure is as high as one in five." Diabetes has become one of the major causes of premature illness and death in most countries, mainly through the increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Diabetes Action Now is supported by a World Diabetes Foundation grant to the International Diabetes Federation and WHO funds. The purpose of “Diabetes Action Now” is to raise awareness about diabetes and stimulate and support the adoption of effective measures for the management and prevention of the condition in low- and middle-income countries and communities.
"Diabetes can be effectively managed and the risk of developing complications reduced substantially", said Professor Pierre Lefèbvre, President of the International Diabetes Federation. "Simple lifestyle adjustments such as a healthy diet and physical activity, often combined with medication, have been shown to be effective in promoting a full and healthy life with diabetes. In many cases, type 2 diabetes – accounting for over 90% of all cases of diabetes – can be prevented through lifestyle interventions alone."