Grim predictions for the rising rates of type 2 diabetes
Scientists estimate that by 2050, over 1.31 billion people worldwide will be living with diabetes! According to a study published in The Lancet, this number will increase from 529 million in 2021, largely due to the rising incidence of type 2 diabetes, which is driven by the growing rates of obesity in the general population.
Experts have called these figures alarming, stating that diabetes is affecting an increasing number of people globally, posing a significant threat to both individuals and healthcare systems.
As reported by The Lancet, diabetes is a disease that causes morbidity, drastically alters the lives of those affected, has high mortality rates, and interacts with many other diseases, worsening their outcomes.
In 2021, type 2 diabetes accounted for 90% of all diabetes cases.
This increase is attributed to a combination of social and other factors, such as high Body Mass Index (BMI), diet, environmental and occupational hazards, smoking, alcohol consumption, and a sedentary lifestyle, all of which are prevalent in modern life.
Social Causes of Type 2 Diabetes
According to the analysis, institutional racism experienced by minority ethnic groups and geographic inequality are contributing to higher rates of diabetes, illnesses, and deaths worldwide. These factors also exacerbate social health risks and affect the care and treatment available to people with diabetes, the authors noted.
This leads to a significant rise in type 2 diabetes cases and worse clinical outcomes in populations experiencing racism and oppression.
Currently, only 10% of people with diabetes in these countries receive care for type 2 diabetes based on clinical guidelines. Moreover, discrimination and marginalization are observed in some countries, resulting in patients facing the worst consequences of diabetes.
People in marginalized communities are less likely to have access to essential medications like insulin. Additionally, they do not regularly monitor their blood sugar levels, have a lower quality of life, and a reduced life expectancy. In the United States, where the burden of type 2 diabetes among young people has nearly doubled in the past 20 years, the highest increase is seen among Black or Native American populations.
Pharmaceutical Spending on Diabetes
Estimates for the global market for type 2 diabetes medications over the next decade vary widely, with some reaching up to $100 billion USD. Overall, global healthcare spending related to diabetes is expected to reach $1.054 trillion by 2045.
EU countries spent an average of 2-8% of their healthcare budgets on preventive care in 2018. Although the COVID-19 pandemic offered an opportunity to reassess how health ministries allocate their funds, little seems to have changed regarding the investment in public health.
Diabetes will be a defining disease of this century. How it is managed over the next two decades will shape population health and life expectancy for the next 80 years.
The Most Common Form of Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and can occur at any age. It is a condition in which the body fails to properly regulate blood glucose levels.
In type 2 diabetes, the body becomes resistant to insulin, which normally keeps blood sugar levels in check. As a result, glucose accumulates in the blood, causing levels to rise above normal. The primary cause of type 2 diabetes is obesity, which leads to insulin resistance.
As a result, the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin to overcome this resistance, leading to glucose buildup in the bloodstream. Other causes include genetic factors, smoking, unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle, and the use of medications for epilepsy and HIV.
Sources: The Lancet
