552 million people might be affected by diabetes in 20 years
It is quite frightening how WALL-E, the animated picture, might have foreseen the future of humans. In the film by Pixar, humans have turned to obese slobs dependent on all the available technology and just spend all day sitting down in front of screens.
A recent study suggests that we might be really heading that way somehow. The study reveals that it is possible that 552 million individuals will have diabetes about twenty years from now. Today around 366 million individuals are suffering from either type I diabetes or type II diabetes. And because people tend to gorge on high calorie foods and maintaining a couch potato lifestyle, around 10% more of the global population might add to this number.
Perhaps majority of us will not pay too much attention about this scary forecast with a lot of us saying that we will cross the bridge if ever we are diagnosed with diabetes. The thought of having diabetes might be less daunting than the thought of cancer but we might be misjudging the situation.
In the United States, around 180,000 people die every year because of diabetes. The expenses because of diabetes are also astounding. Projection on medical expenses and loss in productivity of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer in combo can cost around $$47 trillion thru 2030.
A lot of money can be saved if we put focus on means to prevent diabetes. We do not have to look into prescribed medicines but just like heart disease, diabetes type 2 can also be prevented. The simplest way is by leading a more active lifestyle and following a healthier diet.
Fighting diabetes though entails everyone to work together. The governments must make healthier food options more affordable. Health insurance companies must also somehow rewards efforts of patients to preempt the problem like by attending yoga or consulting a naturopathic doctor.
It is a big battle really when you look at the picture. Either we start early or be ready for a really big problem in the future.
Tags: Diabetes