World Diabetes Day Breaking The Silence And Taking Action

World Diabetes Day: Breaking The Silence And Taking Action

2024-11-14T16:16:14+00:00

By Veronica

Diabetes is a chronic debilitating disease characterized by persistent high glucose levels. The pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or there is insulin resistance. Over time, uncontrolled diabetes can lead to damage in the body system, and the worst case, the organs may shut down.In 1990, the number of people estimated to have diabetes exceeded 200 million, and in 2022, the number had skyrocketed to 830 million. Low-income and middle-income countries have a higher prevalence of diabetes than high-income countries. This is because diabetic people in the above-mentioned countries have low access to medication or treatment. Diabetes is directly related to over 1.6 million deaths that occurred in 2021, and 47% of the deaths happened before the individuals turned 70. Cardiovascular and kidney disease deaths associated with diabetes were estimated to be between 11% and 530,000, respectively. Among the 4 non-communicable diseases (cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes), diabetes has the highest mortality rate, and it has been on the increase since the early 2000s. Today, as we celebrate World Diabetes Day, it is important to educate women and children on the types, symptoms, prevention, and treatment of diabetes.