Posted: March 10th, 2024

Undiagnosed diabetes as a global health problem

Undiagnosed diabetes as a global health problem: that is another burning topic. High levels of obesity around the world increase the risk of diabetes. See why early diagnosis at the prediabetes stage can lead to better outcomes.

Undiagnosed diabetes is a global health problem that affects millions of people and poses serious risks for their well-being. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), diabetes was one of the top 10 causes of death globally in 2021, claiming an estimated 6.7 million lives. Moreover, diabetes is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease, blindness, kidney failure and lower-limb amputation.

One of the challenges in tackling diabetes is that many people are unaware that they have the condition or are at risk of developing it. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimates that 240 million people are living with undiagnosed diabetes worldwide, meaning that almost half of all adults with diabetes do not know their status. Most of these people live in low and middle income countries, where access to diagnosis and treatment is limited.

Early diagnosis of diabetes is crucial for preventing or delaying the onset of complications and improving the quality of life of people with diabetes. However, diagnosis alone is not enough; people with diabetes also need adequate management and care, including access to essential medicines and technologies, such as insulin. Unfortunately, many people with diabetes face barriers to accessing these services, especially in resource-poor settings.

Therefore, there is an urgent need for comprehensive and coordinated actions to address the global burden of diabetes and its complications. This essay will explore why early diagnosis at the prediabetes stage can lead to better outcomes for people with diabetes and how this can be achieved through population-based and individual-level interventions. It will also discuss the challenges and opportunities for implementing these interventions in different contexts and settings.

Bibliography:

[1] Broom D. Diabetes is a silent epidemic, killing nearly 7 million of us every year. World Economic Forum. 2020 Dec 14. Available from: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/12/diabetes-silent-epidemic-world-health/

[2] World Health Organization. Global report on diabetes. Geneva: WHO; 2016. Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/204871/1/9789241565257_eng.pdf

[3] Open Access Government. Diabetes: A global health challenge. 2018 Oct 16. Available from: https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/diabetes-a-global-health-challenge/46992/

[4] UN News. New global compact aims to drive down diabetes deaths, boost insulin access. 2021 Apr 14. Available from: https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/04/1089712

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