Diabetes – Interesting Facts

1. 1. The word “diabetes” is Greek for “siphon,” which refers to the copious urine of uncontrolled diabetes. “Mellitus” is Latin for “honey” or “sweet,” a name added when physicians discovered that the urine from people with diabetes is sweet with glucose
   2. The death rate among African-Americans with diabetes is 27% higher than among whites with diabetes. Reasons include hereditary, socio-economic issues, higher obesity rates, and lack of available health insurance or insurance coverage
   3. Type 1 diabetes is characterized by a lack of insulin production and type 2 diabetes results from the body’s ineffective use of insulin
   4. Type 2 diabetes is much more common than type 1 diabetes, and accounts for around 90% of all diabetes worldwide.
   5. Reports of type 2 diabetes in children – previously rare – have increased worldwide. In some countries, it accounts for almost half of newly diagnosed cases in children and adolescents.
   6. 80% of diabetes deaths are now occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
   7. Some studies have indicated that individuals with diabetes are at much greater risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia than are non-diabetics, though the reasons are unknown.
   8. Diabetes is the main cause of blindness in individuals aged 20-74 in the United States. Experts emphasize that early detection and treatment could prevent up to 90% of cases of blindness that are related to diabetes.
   9. India has the world’s highest diabetes population with over 35 million people with diabetes. By 2025, this number is expected to swell to 70 million, meaning every fifth diabetic in the world would be Indian.
   10. Individuals with an “apple” body shape are at greater risk for diabetes than are those with “pear” body shapes.
   11. Experts report that diabetes decreases life expectancy by five to 10 years.
   12. Approximately 17 million U.S. residents have been diagnosed with diabetes, which is nearly 10% of the estimated 170 million people suffering from diabetes worldwide.
   13. Clinical research found that babies who breastfeed at least three months had a lower incidence of Type 1 diabetes and may be less likely to become obese as adults.
   14. Overweight individuals are more prone to develop diabetes because more fat requires more insulin, fat cells release free fatty acids which interfere with glucose metabolism, and overweight people have fewer available insulin receptors.
   15. Smoking can increase diabetes risk by constricting blood vessels, raising blood pressure, and stimulating the release of catecholamines (fight-or-flight hormones), which promote insulin resistance.
   16. In women, diabetes impacts estrogen levels, menstrual and ovulation cycles, and sexual desire.

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1. Researchers found that every two hours spent watching television was associated with a 14% increase in diabetes risk.
2. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, accounting for 44% of new cases in 2005.
3. Every 10 seconds someone dies from diabetes-related causes globally. Every year nearly 3.5 million people in the world die due to diabetes. The death rate is expected to rise by 25% over the next decade.
4. Diabetes is responsible for over one million amputations each year, a large percentage of cataracts, and at least 5% of blindness worldwide.
5. About one third of all people with diabetes do not know they have the disease.
6. Type 2 diabetes often does not have any symptoms.
7. People with diabetes are twice as likely to develop heart disease as someone without diabetes.
8. Good control of diabetes significantly reduces the risk of developing complications and prevents complications from getting worse.
9. Bariatric surgery can reduce the symptoms of diabetes in obese people.
10. According to WHO, there is an emerging global epidemic of diabetes that can be traced back to rapid increases in overweight, obesity and physical inactivity.
11. Total deaths from diabetes are projected to rise by more than 50% in the next 10 years. Most notably, they are projected to increase by over 80% in upper-middle income countries.
12. Lack of awareness about diabetes, combined with insufficient access to health services, can lead to complications such as blindness, amputation and kidney failure.
13. Diabetes can be prevented. Thirty minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most days and a healthy diet can drastically reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
14. Those with severe diabetes must frequently check their blood sugar levels. Should they become too high (hyperglycemia) or fall too low (hypoglycemia), you run the risk of falling into a diabetic coma