One person dies from diabetes every seven seconds, in a worldwide diabetes epidemic that continues to worsen, with 366 million diabetics worldwide, an annual death count of 4.6 million, and a health care bill of 465 billion US dollars. These are the new Diabetes Atlas figures the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) released yesterday at the Lisbon meeting of the EASD (European Association for the Study of Diabetes), a week ahead of the UN Summit on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
The new figure is up from the 300 million estimate given in the 2009 edition of IDF’s Diabetes Atlas.
In a statement, the IDF say the “staggering” figures confirm the global diabetes epidemic continues to worsen. Their figures, drawn from data from global studies, form part a strong message to world leaders: invest in research now, to accrue future savings and reduce the growing burden of NCDs on their health systems.
They say the UN Summit, only the second in history to deal with health-related issues, is evidence that “world leaders are finally facing up to the challenge” posed by NCDs, which include not only diabetes but also cancer, heart and chronic respiratory diseases.
The hope is that world leaders will sign up to commitments and concrete actions, with measurable targets to tackle NCDs, mirroring the landmark UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS in 2001.
IDF President Professor Jean Claude Mbanya told the press:
“IDF’s latest Atlas data are proof indeed that diabetes is a massive challenge the world can no longer afford to ignore.”
He said as one person dies of diabetes every seven seconds, the “clock is ticking for the world’s leaders”, and he expects them to act next week at the UN Summit to “halt diabetes’ relentlessly upwards trajectory”.
Vice-President of EASD, Professor Andrew JM Boulton, said:
“The socio-economic impact of not just diabetes, but all non-communicable diseases, is staggering.”
He added the IDF has the full support of EASD, and “echoes the call of Prof Mbanya’s for increased funds for medical research”.
The two organizations want such research to strengthen health systems by developing and testing ways of building more local capacity for health care. They also want it to develop ways to integrate diabetes care with primary care, management of chronic infectious diseases and maternal and child health.
Sponsorship for the 5th edition of the IDF Diabetes Atlas came from Lilly Diabetes, Merck and Co. Inc., Novo Nordisk A/S and Sanofi.
You can download the Atlas online (currently 4th edition): IDF Diabetes Atlas. The new edition will be available in November.
Written by Catharine Paddock PhD