Today, ‘World Diabetes Day’ is observed globally
The number of diabetic Patients is increasing day by day in various Countries. Recent research it found that the Number of diabetic patients in 1994-1995 was lower, and over the last 30 years, this numbers has nearly doubled.
The UK-based medical journal The Lancet has published a research article on the issue.
The article also mentions that in 2022, 14% of adult diabetes patients worldwide had a severe physical condition, whereas in 1990, only 7% of diabetes patients were severely ill.
In fact, never before has diabetes spread so rapidly in such a short period of time. The number of diabetes patients is increasing in parallel with the growth of the global population. Currently, the number of diabetes patients worldwide has exceeded 800 million, compared to less than 200 million in 1990.
There are two types of diabetes mentioned in medical science. The first is Type 1 diabetes, which primarily affects children and young adults. Its treatment is relatively difficult because those with Type 1 diabetes are unable to produce the necessary insulin in their bodies. This is a congenital defect.
The second type is Type 2 diabetes. This typically affects middle-aged individuals, and the main cause of Type 2 diabetes is a decrease in the secretion of insulin due to age.
The authors of the research article published in The Lancet have reviewed various data and statistics regarding the spread of diabetes in different countries in recent years. It was found that in most developed countries such as Japan, Canada, France, and Denmark, the number of diabetes patients has either remained stable or decreased over the past 30 years.
On the other hand, in low- and middle-income countries, the number of diabetes patients has increased significantly over the same period. For example, one-third of women in Pakistan are currently affected by diabetes, whereas this rate was only 10% in 1990 and the following years.
Researchers have stated that the spread of Type 2 diabetes in low- and middle-income countries is primarily due to unhealthy eating habits and obesity caused by a lack of physical activity or exercise. Furthermore, the healthcare services for diabetes in these countries are also not well developed.
Currently, the situation in low- and middle-income countries is indeed alarming. Referring to statistics from 2022, researchers say that out of every five individuals with Type 2 diabetes aged 30 and above, three are not receiving treatment. According to researchers, the number of untreated diabetes patients worldwide was 445 million.
One-third of diabetes patients in India do not receive treatment. In Sub-Saharan African countries, only 5 to 10 percent of diabetes patients receive medical care.
The study was conducted by several scientists from the renowned Imperial College of London. The lead author of the study, Majid Ejati, says, “The increasing number of diabetes patients in low- and middle-income countries is concerning. But what is even more worrying is the lack of adequate medical care.”
“Because if diabetes patients do not receive proper treatment, they can develop various physical complications, and eventually, these complications can lead to severe physical consequences such as amputations, heart disease, kidney failure, and blindness.”