Did You Know?

• Diabetes currently affects 246 million people worldwide and is expected to affect 380 million by 2025.
• In 2007, the five countries with the largest numbers of people with diabetes are India (40.9 million), China (39.8 million), the United States (19.2 million), Russia (9.6 million) and Germany (7.4 million).
• In 2007, the five countries with the highest diabetes prevalence in the adult population are Nauru (30.7%), United Arab Emirates (19.5%), Saudi Arabia (16.7%), Bahrain(15.2%), and Kuwait (14.4%).

• By 2025, the largest increases in diabetes prevalence will take place in developing countries.
• Each year a further 7 million people develop diabetes.
• Each year 3.8 million deaths are attributable to diabetes. An even greater number die from cardiovascular disease made worse by diabetes–related lipid disorders and hypertension.
• Every 10 seconds a person dies from diabetes–related causes.
• Every 10 seconds two people develop diabetes.
• Diabetes is the fourth leading cause of global death by disease.
• At least 50% of all people with diabetes are unaware of their condition. In some countries this figure may reach 80%.
• Up to 80% of type 2 diabetes is preventable by adopting a healthy diet and increasing physical activity.
• Diabetes is the largest cause of kidney failure in developed countries and is responsible for huge dialysis costs.
• Type 2 diabetes has become the most frequent condition in people with kidney failure in countries of the Western world. The reported incidence varies between 30% and 40% in countries such as Germany and the USA.
• 10% to 20% of people with diabetes die of renal failure.
• It is estimated that more than 2.5 million people worldwide are affected by diabetic retinopathy.
• Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of vision loss in adults of working age (20 to 65 years) in industrialized countries.
• On average, people with type 2 diabetes will die 5–10 years before people without diabetes, mostly due to cardiovascular disease.
• Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of death in diabetes, accounting for some 50% of all diabetes fatalities, and much disability.
• People with type 2 diabetes are over twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke as people who do not have diabetes. Indeed, people with type 2 diabetes are as likely to suffer a heart attack as people without diabetes who have already had a heart attack.

Sources
Diabetes Atlas, third edition, International Diabetes Federation, 2007.
Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease: Time to Act, International Diabetes Federation, 2001.
World Health Organisation Diabetes Unit – www.who.int/diabetes.