Thread: Deadly diabetes in 'unrelenting march'

The world is facing an "unrelenting march" of diabetes which now affects nearly one-in-11 people, the World Health Organization (WHO) says.

In a major report it warned cases had quadrupled from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014.

High blood sugar levels are a major killer - linked to 3.7 million deaths around the world each year, it says.

And officials said the numbers would continue to increase unless "drastic action" was taken.

The report lumps both type 1 and type 2 diabetes together, but the surge in cases is predominantly down to type 2 - the form closely linked to poor lifestyle.

As the world's waistlines have ballooned - with one-in-three people now overweight, so too has the number of diabetes cases.

How diabetes has taken its toll

422 million adults were living with diabetes in 2014 - that's 314 million more than there were in 1980

8.5% of adults worldwide has diabetes

1.5 million people died as a result of diabetes in 2012

2.2 million additional deaths were caused by higher-than-optimal blood glucose

43% of these 3.7m people died before they were 70 years old

Source: WHO

Dr Etienne Krug, the WHO official in charge of leading efforts against diabetes, told the BBC: "Diabetes is a silent disease, but it is on an unrelenting march that we need to stop.

"We can stop it, we know what needs to be done, but we cannot let it evolve like it does because it has a huge impact on people's health, on families and on society."

Failing to control levels of sugar in the blood has devastating health consequences increasing the risk of heart attacks, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, limb amputations and complications in pregnancy.

Diabetes itself is the eighth biggest killer in the world accounting for 1.5 million deaths each year.

But a further 2.2 million deaths are linked to high blood sugar levels.

Moving burden

In the 1980s the highest rates were found in affluent countries.

But, in a remarkable transformation, it is now low and middle income countries bearing the largest burden.

Dr Krug told the BBC News website: "That's where we see the steepest increase. Knowing that's where most of the population lives in the world, it does show numbers will continue to increase unless drastic action is taken."



The Middle East has seen the prevalence of diabetes soar from 5.9% of adults in 1980 to 13.7% in 2014.

Dr Slim Slama, a WHO specialist in region, told the BBC News website: "We are the region that has experienced the greatest rise in diabetes, moving 6 million to 43 million - it is a huge, huge increase.

"In Qatar or Kuwait we have more than 20% of the population with diabetes and when you look at subgroups - people beyond 45 or 60 years old - it's 30-40% and things are even more worrying."

Deadly diabetes in 'unrelenting march' - BBC News

Most recently diagnosed diabetics are generally stupid, carb addicted lazy fat c*nts, many with late onset (Type 2) diabetes, a manageable condition, IF the sufferers take control of themselves instead of being so self-indulgent.

The accompanying rise in Type 1 diabetes is also increasingly linked to obesity, as more kids are indulging in carbs/sugars and NO exercise than ever before due to a supposed rise in life-style standards/wealth.
The truth is we're digging our own graves with our teeth.

The accompanying rise in ADD/ADHD cases is also a result of over-weaning mums (particularly single mothers) pacifying their kids with sugary rewards.

Society's gone to hell, no self discipline left at all, just carrot and stick systems to keep all in order.

And so speaketh TD CSI.... peace be upon them

It is a convenient label for some people to avoid responsibility for their lifestyle. All it does, like other 'fashionable' afflictions, is create greater earnings for big pharma.

Originally Posted by ENT

Society's gone to hell, no self discipline left at all, just carrot and stick systems to keep all in order.

One does not have to go to far to see a massive fat bastard farang sitting on a bar stool drinking piss and smoking cigs.

I mean it's gona kill ya innit.

I like to have a drink as well but I monitor my weight, put on a Kilo and I go off the piss for few days. Gota keep a handle on it.

Weight piles on easily when older and drinking piss is a major cause.

Plus go for a nice walk helps things.

I don't smoke thank fuk.

Originally Posted by ENT

Most recently diagnosed diabetics are generally stupid, carb addicted lazy fat c*nts, many with late onset (Type 2) diabetes, a manageable condition, IF the sufferers take control of themselves instead of being so self-indulgent.

The accompanying rise in Type 1 diabetes is also increasingly linked to obesity, as more kids are indulging in carbs/sugars and NO exercise than ever before due to a supposed rise in life-style standards/wealth.
The truth is we're digging our own graves with our teeth.

The accompanying rise in ADD/ADHD cases is also a result of over-weaning mums (particularly single mothers) pacifying their kids with sugary rewards.

Society's gone to hell, no self discipline left at all, just carrot and stick systems to keep all in order.

The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers

Socrates (469–399 B.C.)

There's nothing new under the sun, only repeated, eh.

Humanity seems to take two steps forward and one step back in its progress.

I think it's called evolution.

Originally Posted by hazz

And so speaketh TD CSI.... peace be upon them

Thank you.

I blame much of this on lazy parents, particularly in Thailand where fast foods loaded with sugar have become more readily available. The endless sweet snacks given to children has caused a huge upswing in obesity over the past 5-10 years which predisposes them to diabetes. The same trend was seen in the west and is responsible for their upswing in diabetes as well.

Will Thailand change? I don't think so since they seem to listen much less to sound medical advice than westerners do. Better start buying Lilly stock now.

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

Will Thailand change? I don't think so since they seem to listen much less to sound medical advice than westerners do.

Perhaps westerners are just more gullible. If you don't have a medical fad label these days you are worthless.

My sister's a bit like that, broadcasts her infirmities on facebook.

Originally Posted by ENT

My sister's a bit like that, broadcasts her infirmities on facebook.

Tits oot?

Nearly, but a bit too old and fat for that, the awl' slapper.

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

I blame much of this on lazy parents, particularly in Thailand where fast foods loaded with sugar have become more readily available. The endless sweet snacks given to children has caused a huge upswing in obesity over the past 5-10 years which predisposes them to diabetes. The same trend was seen in the west and is responsible for their upswing in diabetes as well.

Will Thailand change? I don't think so since they seem to listen much less to sound medical advice than westerners do. Better start buying Lilly stock now.

I see my Sister in Law giving my 7 + 9 year old nephews paracetamol now when they grizzle with a ''head ache''. I tell her to give em a glass of water now and then instead of Coke, and a full nights sleep wouldn't go amiss either...

Does she listen? does she fuck.

Originally Posted by chassamui

It is a convenient label for some people to avoid responsibility for their lifestyle. All it does, like other 'fashionable' afflictions, is create greater earnings for big pharma.

What? There are plenty of fake or exaggerated diseases used by malingerers or hypochondriacs, but diabetes is not one of them. Blood sugar can be easily measured and charted.

Also, look at the supply of available food; if you discard everything the "experts" say can be harmful, there's not much left to choose from.

Originally Posted by BobR

There are plenty of fake or exaggerated diseases used by malingerers or hypochondriacs

Yes, and those in search of a better class of illness will use the popularity of diabetes to add weight to their facebook profile.

Originally Posted by BobR

Blood sugar can be easily measured and charted.

Just ask yourself who produces and profits from the test kits? Those who automatically assume a high blood sugar count entitles them to a fad label can manipulate the test anyway.