10 DIABETES facts that may help you better understand the seriousness of the disease, courtesy of the AND the . It’s never too late to learn something new.
1. ABOUT 382 MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE LIVE WITH DIABETES
2. DIABETES IS PREDICTED TO BECOME THE 7TH LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE WORLD (IT IS 3RD IN THE USA)
3. THERE ARE TWO FORMS OF DIABETES – TYPE 1 WHICH IS INCURABLE AND AN AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE AND TYPE 2 DIABETES WHICH IS A METABOLIC DISORDER THAT RESULTS FROM INSULIN INEFFICIENCY
4. A THIRD TYPE OF DIABETES IS GESTATIONAL DIABETES WHICH IS WHEN HIGH BLOOD SUGAR DEVELOPS DURING PREGNANCY
5. TYPE 2 DIABETES ACCOUNTS FOR 90% OF ALL DIABETES CASES, BUT WHILE THIS MAKES IT EASIER TO MISUNDERSTAND TYPE 1 DIABETES – AWARENESS FOR ALL TYPES OF DIABETES IS LOW. (SHOCKING GIVEN THE NUMBERS.)
6. HEART DISEASE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 50% TO 80% OF PREMATURE DEATHS
9. DIABETES IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF BLINDNESS, AMPUTATION (RELATED TO POOR BLOOD FLOW AND IMMUNITY) AND KIDNEY FAILURE
7. IN 2004, AN ESTIMATED 3.4 MILLION PEOPLE DIED FROM UNTREATED HIGH BLOOD SUGAR. IT IS ASSUMED THESE NUMBERS ARE RISING.
8. 80% OF DIABETES OCCURS IN LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME COUNTRIES BETWEEN THE AGES OF 35-64.
10. TYPE 2 DIABETES CAN BE PREVENTED AND REVERSED (TYPE 1 CANNOT) BUT AWARENESS IS KEY