November 14 is World Diabetes Day
World Diabetes Day is as good of a day as any to discuss the global impact of the disease. According to the International Diabetes Federation, an estimated 382 million people across the world have diabetes and that number is estimated to rise to 592 million by 2035.
China, India and the United States are at the top of the list for the most cases of diabetes per country, but islands in the Pacific have the largest number of cases compared to the overall population. According to an epidemiologist from the IDF, the discovery of natural resources on the islands led to an influx of money, causing people to start eating more imported foods and moving less.
CNN reported some other harrowing statistics from the IDF's most recent report:
- An estimated 5.1 million people died of diabetes-related complications in 2013
-17% of babies in 2013 were born to women with high blood sugar levels, which will "contribute to the global diabetes burden in years to come"
- More than 79,000 children developed Type I diabetes in 2013, up from 77,800 in 2011.
- The equivalent of $548 billion was spent on health care for diabetes patients around the world in 2013.
Despite the report's bleak outlook, one spot of good news that came out yesterday could enhance the quality of life for patients with diabetes in the near future. While finger pricks to test blood glucose are considered minimally invasive, they're still inconvenient and painful for patients. A breathlyzer-style test to monitor blood glucose has been in talks for several years now, using the knowledge that there is a linear relationship between blood-glucose and levels of acetone in the breath.
Previous breathalyzer monitors have been ineffective because the humidity in a person's breath hinders the results. Researchers from Western New England University have created a tool that actually utilizes the humidity, making their breathalyzer cheaper and more effective. Researchers hope to begin testing on diabetic patients starting late 2014 or early 2015.
- AP
China, India and the United States are at the top of the list for the most cases of diabetes per country, but islands in the Pacific have the largest number of cases compared to the overall population. According to an epidemiologist from the IDF, the discovery of natural resources on the islands led to an influx of money, causing people to start eating more imported foods and moving less.
CNN reported some other harrowing statistics from the IDF's most recent report:
- An estimated 5.1 million people died of diabetes-related complications in 2013
-17% of babies in 2013 were born to women with high blood sugar levels, which will "contribute to the global diabetes burden in years to come"
- More than 79,000 children developed Type I diabetes in 2013, up from 77,800 in 2011.
- The equivalent of $548 billion was spent on health care for diabetes patients around the world in 2013.
Despite the report's bleak outlook, one spot of good news that came out yesterday could enhance the quality of life for patients with diabetes in the near future. While finger pricks to test blood glucose are considered minimally invasive, they're still inconvenient and painful for patients. A breathlyzer-style test to monitor blood glucose has been in talks for several years now, using the knowledge that there is a linear relationship between blood-glucose and levels of acetone in the breath.
Previous breathalyzer monitors have been ineffective because the humidity in a person's breath hinders the results. Researchers from Western New England University have created a tool that actually utilizes the humidity, making their breathalyzer cheaper and more effective. Researchers hope to begin testing on diabetic patients starting late 2014 or early 2015.
- AP
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