Known as one of the most common chronic disorders,
diabetes is currently affecting more than 194 million people worldwide. Its rapidly increasing prevalence is a major cause for concern as the number of people with diabetes is expected to exceed 333 million by 2025 making diabetes fated to become one of the world most important and costly diseases.
Much of the increase will occur in developing countries (+ 170%), although developed countries will not be spared (+ 42%). This is due to the population ageing and growth, increased urbanisation, obesity, unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyle.
Diabetes has become one of the major causes of premature illness and death in most countries impacting heavily on work and productivity in people of working age.
Diabetes is currently the leading cause of kidney failure, limb amputation, blindness and visual impairment and multiplies by 2 to 4 the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
However there is now good evidence to show that early diagnosis and good management can reduce the risk of premature death and complications of diabetes.
Diabetes affects about 3.2% of the population in the UK but up to a million of people with diabetes is thought to remain undiagnosed so that the total number may be much higher. It is also predicted for the number of people with diabetes in the UK to rise dramatically up to 3 million by the year 2010. Diabetes also accounts for about 9% of total hospital costs in the UK, hospital costs are 6 times higher for a person with diabetes than for one without diabetes.
