Diabetes: The Scary Numbers :

According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions worldwide. Did you know diabetes affects more than 230 million people worldwide? And by the year 2025 diabetes is expected to affect 350 million people. Can’t wrap your head around it? Consider that the population of the United States is around 299 million.

Even more shocking than the number of people with diabetes is the cost of living with it . The IDF found that a person with diabetes has medical costs that are up to five times higher than those of a person without diabetes. This is due to the fact that diabetes patients tend to make more frequent medical visits plus the costs of supplies (such as insulin) and other medications.

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Also, an estimated 25 percent of the world's nations have not made any detailed provision for diabetes care in national health plans. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 2.5 percent to 15 percent of annual health budgets are spent on diabetes-related illnesses. If you are not sure if you have diabetes it is very important to get tested. The IDF reports that “at least 50 percent of all people with diabetes are unaware of their condition. In some countries this figure may reach 80 percent.”

If action is taken early it is more beneficial to the patient in terms of cost and care. As medicine and technology advances so does the quality of life of diabetes patients. According to the IDF’s website, “there is conclusive evidence that good control of blood glucose levels can substantially reduce the risk of developing complications and slow their progression in all types of diabetes.”

Also, the management of high blood pressure and lipid count is important to reducing the effects of diabetes.

According to the American Diabetes Association, people with Type 2 diabetes are about twice as likely to have cardiovascular disease than most people. eDiets Chief Nutritionist Susan Burke explains, “Nine out of 10 people with Type 2 diabetes are overweight. Lowering blood fats, blood pressure and taking on a healthy lifestyle can be a very effective solution for those with Type 2 diabetes.”

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