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Diabetes Pandemic
Diabetes Prevalence
Diabetes prevalence is increasing in every country in the world, and the toll is climbing in terms of human lives as well as the costs to society.
- It is predicted that in 2010, 285 million people, or approximately 6.4% of the world’s adult population, will live with diabetes.
- By 2030 this number is expected to grow to 439 million.1
- Worldwide, only half of all people with diabetes are diagnosed.2
People with type 2 diabetes may remain undiagnosed for several years, so a significant number already have serious medical complications
associated with hyperglycaemia3 by the time they see a doctor.4 Due to its chronic, progressive nature, the severity of related complications
and the medical treatment required to treat advanced stages, diabetes is a costly disease.
In the United States alone, the direct and indirect cost of diabetes totals $218 billion (USD) per year. In developing countries where diabetes
incidence and diabetes prevalence are among the highest5 mechanisms for financing healthcare are poor and people with diabetes and their
families must bear almost the entire cost of diabetes treatment.
Change is Essential
Unless diabetes prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment are drastically improved, the world faces a global pandemic. In the
developing world, type 2 diabetes may account for more than 95% of all diabetes cases.3 An overall aging population, sedentary
occupations resulting in reduced physical activity and unhealthy eating patterns leading to obesity1 are all contributing to
dramatic increases in the global incidence of type 2 diabetes and the intensified need to focus on how to manage diabetes and
the associated costs.
In the United States, the obesity epidemic is contributing to the growing prevalence and cost of diabetes. Estimates reveal that the
number of Americans with diabetes will increase by over 80% to 44 million by 2034, with direct health care costs increasing from $116
billion (USD) to $336 billion a year. Learn
more about the impact of diabetes on the United States economy and society-at-large in this article from Forbes magazine.
Providing good diabetes care for a national population requires coordination and responsibility across all levels of
society. From the person with diabetes to healthcare organisations and national plans from which care is delivered,
supporting policies and financing frameworks have a great impact on society’s ability to prevent, diagnose, and change
diabetes. Read about the impact of the diabetes pandemic around the world in the Changing Diabetes Briefing Books.
Novo Nordisk’s overarching ambition is to defeat diabetes. Changing Diabetes Barometer is just one initiative that is part of the
Changing Diabetes®
global campaign which focuses on curbing the diabetes pandemic and promoting universal access to the best quality of diabetes care.
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