Diabetes is spreading around the world. Experts used to believe that so-called late-onset or type 2 diabetes was mostly a disease of obesity found primarily in industrialized countries. But new data reveal that this metabolic condition is extremely common in sub-Saharan Africa and even China. In fact, China now has nearly 100 million diabetics, making it the world’s leading nation for type 2 diabetes. The figures come from the International Diabetes Federation and were released on World Diabetes Day (Nov. 14, 2012).
In many poorer countries limited access to health care means that up to half of people with diabetes have not been diagnosed and are not being treated. Untreated diabetes can lead to heart disease, blindness, kidney damage and neuropathy.
You can learn more about managing diabetes through diet and exercise as well as medications from our radio shows: #866 Diabetes Solutions and #854 The Blood Sugar Solution, as well as #774 Diabetes Update.
The People's Perspective on Medicine