Introduction
Diabetes is a disease that is diagnosed when our blood sugar (blood glucose) levels are high. Many people think that they get Type 2 Diabetes because they have a family history of Type 2 Diabetes. However, family history of Type 2 Diabetes only contributes ~ 10% to the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. There are several other factors which have resulted in the diabetes pandemic.
If we look at the graph of global diabetes cases, it’s evident that diabetes has become a pandemic in the last two to three decades. Over the same time period, a larger portion of our diets has consisted of fast food, packaged food products, carbonated sugary beverages and eating out at restaurants. In addition to that, we have become sedentary at work and at home with excessive screen time with the advent of smartphones and constant online presence.
Without a doubt, the diabetes pandemic has been growing silently and aggressively throughout the world, and it has a direct connection to our diet & lifestyle habits.
Let’s learn a little more about global diabetes statistics.
There are a total of 462 million diabetic cases in the world which is 6% of the world’s population. Approximately 4.2 million people die due to diabetes every year. 8% of total deaths from all causes are from diabetes or related complications. Diabetes retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness. Diabetes also increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and dialysis. Approximately $760 billion annually is spent worldwide on healthcare expenses related to diabetes care (10% of global health expenditure).
Now, let us discuss diabetes statistics in countries like India, Canada & USA.
India 2019
There are a total of 73 million cases of diabetes in India. The average age of a person with diabetes is 43.5 years. Overall, 1.1 million people die due to diabetes every year in India. The situation is so dire that India Is known as the Diabetes Capital of the World.
Diabetes results in 11.5% of total deaths from all causes. By 2030 it is estimated that there are going to be a hundred million (10 crores) cases of diabetes in India, which is worse than any pandemic.
Canada 2019
There are a total of 2.7 million cases of diabetes in Canada which is 7.5% of the total population.
There is a higher prevalence is some ethnicities – e.g. South Asians – 12-20% in some suburbs in the Greater Toronto Area with a higher proportion of South Asian population.
26.4% Canadians (i.e. 1 in 4 Canadians) will have Diabetes or Prediabetes (Borderline Diabetes) in 2020, which is a cause for concern.
USA 2019
There are total 31 million cases which is approximately 10% of the total population. Diabetes resulted in 12% of total deaths from all causes. The average age of a person with diabetes in the US is 45 years.
CONCLUSION
The statistics above are staggering and it is high time that we get serious about our nutrition, physical activity & lifestyle.
Contrary to the popular opinion, we believe Type 2 Diabetes has less to do with genes and more to do with our food & lifestyle. Diabetes shouldn’t be accepted as inevitable, because we all can prevent it by eating a healthy diet, reducing stress and being physically active on a regular basis.
If you or someone you know has Diabetes or Prediabetes, and are looking to improve your health with a Diabetes Improvement/Prevention Program including an individualized Diabetes Diet Plan, please check out My Practical Diet’s Diabetes & Prediabetes Program.
(Reference: International Diabetes Federation( IDF) Diabetes Atlas Ninth edition 2019)
