It came as separate data showed more than 50,000 Brits have this form, which is linked to unhealthy lifestyles and obesity.
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According to WHO, In 2008, an estimated 347 million people in the world had diabetes and the prevalence is growing, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Between 1980 and 2014 the number of adults with diabetes quadrupled from 108 million to 422 million. Higher-than-optimal blood glucose caused an additional 2.2 million deaths by increasing the risks of cardiovascular and other diseases, according to the report.
In 2014, more than one in three adults aged over 18 years were overweight and more than one in 10 were obese.
The global call to action followed steps in the UAE to reduce incidence from 19 per cent of the population to 16 per cent by 2021. Type 1 diabetes, which most commonly affects children and adolescents and requires daily insulin for survival, is now not preventable.
Some 549,000 people are also believed to have type 2 diabetes but are now undiagnosed.
World Health Organization did stress it believes many deaths related to diabetes, especially those before the age of 70, can be prevented through better detection of the disease and healthier lifestyles.
Diabetes is an increasingly serious medical threat faced by nations that must be a high priority of any developing country’s health policy as diabetes is not just a health issue but a development issue as it hinders progress. Complications from the disease can lead to blindness, stroke, kidney failure, heart attack, as well as lower limb amputation.
A study conducted by Imperial College London published on March 31 says now more people on a global scale are overweight than underweight, indicating that the chances of meeting the WHO’s obesity target are slim. In American Samoa, almost one third of the adult population have diabetes.
In 2012, governments agreed to halt the rise in diabetes by 2025 (pdf), but the report notes that this looks unlikely to happen at the current rate of progress.
In comparison, United Kingdom women were 181st in the world, and 29th in Europe.
“The enormous cost of this disease – to both governments and individuals – could otherwise go towards life essentials such as food and education”.
The price hike has made experts question how worthwhile the drug is compared to other therapies that also reduce blood sugar levels.
NCD Risk Factor Collaboration. But, 85 percent to 95 percent of adult diabetes cases are type 2.
One in 12 people in the Americas – some 62 million people – live with diabetes in the Americas.
“There is a critical window for intervention to mitigate the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life”, the report said.
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Launch the first Global report on diabetes, which will describe the burden and consequences of diabetes and advocate for stronger health systems to ensure improved surveillance, enhanced prevention, and more effective management of diabetes.
