Monitoring Blood Sugars
Many experts look at Type 2 Diabetes as a Western problem. However, the increasing number of people in third world countries developing diabetes is challenging that assumption. The number of people now afflicted with this disease is rapidly the 300 million number around the world. Two decades ago, that figure was about 30 million. This rapid and startling increase shows that diabetes is becoming an epidemic of global proportions. Most epidemics come by virus or bacteria. However, this one is a factor of lifestyle changes and genetic factors.
Eighty percent of Diabetes cases lay within developing nations. Almost 6% of the world’s adult population has this disease. North America, the Middle East, and the Eastern Mediterranean have the highest percentages of adults with diabetes. India has the largest number of people in their population with diabetes at over 40 million. China is not far behind and neither is the United States. Other countries with developing problems include Russia, Germany, Japan, Brazil, Pakistan, Mexico, and Egypt. This disease seems commonplace among both developed and developing countries. Unfortunately, it now claims at least 4 million people each year. That number may be greater when you iinclude as yet undiagnosed cases.
Why is type 2 diabetes becoming a global problem? There is no one single factor. It involves changes to social and environment factors affecting inbuilt genes. When a population improves economically, its dietoften also changes. It may also can affect theirexercise levels. Any gains in weight or changes in diet can trigger the development of diabetes in some populations with a genetic predisposition towards it. Since many factory processed foodstuffs offer calories at a low cost, they mix into the diet easily in poorer communities. That is often a trigger for the development and spread of Diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is a silent epidemic. Most epidemics sweep dramatically into a community and begin striking the population down quickly. Diabetes comes in slow and usually under the radar. One or two people develop the disease. Since there are treatments for the disease, it seems benign. Then, a few more people develop the disease. Again, treatment is there so okay. Before you know it, however, it is afflicting a good portion of the population. In addition, it is a killer if not treated properly. Taking the steps to monitor and prevent it in the first place starts with you. Subsequently, to halt this epidemic, it means education is paramount.
