The Guru's World

Globally, the number of adults with diabetes is set to double by 2050, making diabetes a more pressing concern than ever before. In the next 30 years, over 1.3 billion people will live with diabetes, according to a recent study published in the Lancet and The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journals. Over the next five years, no country is expected to see a decline in diabetes rates.

A Public Health Nightmare

Researchers found that global health crises rapidly deteriorate, painting an ominous picture. Data from experts show that diabetes is outpacing most diseases worldwide and poses a severe threat to public health and healthcare.

A significant public health threat of our time, diabetes is set to grow aggressively over the next three decades across all countries, age groups, and genders, posing a severe challenge to healthcare systems around the world, warns Dr. Shivani Agarwal from New York’s Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Health System.

According to the UN, one in seven to one in eight people worldwide will have diabetes by 2050.

The Shadow of Type 2 Diabetes and Rising Obesity

In most cases, these are cases of type 2 diabetes. Remarkably, this type of diabetes is largely preventable if diagnosed and managed early. Despite this, diabetes prevalence is increasing worldwide due to increased obesity – triggered by various factors.

Discrimination and Inequality Intensify The Crisis

According to the study, structural racism experienced by minority ethnic groups and geographic inequity contribute to diabetes rates, disease, illness, and death. It is common for marginalized communities to be denied access to essential medicines like insulin, leading to worse blood sugar control, lower quality of life, and a shorter life expectancy.

Co-author Leonard Egede from the Medical College of Wisconsin says that racial policies like residential segregation affect where people live and their ability to access sufficient and healthy food and healthcare services.

Marginalized populations are disproportionately affected by public awareness, policies, economic development, access to high-quality care, innovations in management, and sociocultural norms.

Inequity in diabetes has become worse across the globe as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among minorities, people with diabetes have twice the risk of developing severe COVID-19 infection and dying.

The Urgent Need for Action

The diabetes epidemic is spreading out of control, and experts and advocacy groups are calling for urgent and comprehensive measures. Diabetes UK reports that high levels of obesity contribute to the increasing number of Type 2 diabetes cases, especially in areas with a higher degree of deprivation.

In an interview with Chris Askew, chief executive of Diabetes UK, he said: “Your ethnicity, where you live, and your income all play a role in your chances of getting type 2 diabetes, receiving care, and living a long life.

There is a pressing need for coordinated action across governments to address disparities in diabetes prevalence, outcomes, and underlying diseases like obesity and poverty. A looming health catastrophe is becoming increasingly apparent as the clock ticks to 2050.

References

Gregory, A. (2023, June 22). More than 1.3bn adults will have diabetes by 2050, a study predicts. the Guardian. https://rb.gy/hazs3