Poorer countries affected: the number of people with diabetes will double worldwide by 2050

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More than 1.3 billion people may suffer from chronic metabolic disease in less than three decades, according to research published Friday in the British journal The Lancet.

According to Liane Ong, a researcher at the US Institute of Health Statistics (IHME) and lead author of the study, changing dietary habits are responsible for the rapid increase in the number of cases of the disease. Over the past 30 years, many countries have switched from traditional diets rich in fruits and vegetables to increasing their consumption of processed foods, he told AFP. Other factors that lead to diabetes are obesity, lack of movement, alcohol and smoking.

Poor countries are particularly affected

According to the study, the number of people with diabetes will increase in every country in the coming years, but by 2045, three-quarters of adults with diabetes will live in low- and middle-income countries. Even in wealthier countries like the United States, the diabetes rate among minorities such as blacks, Hispanics and Asians will be 1.5 percent higher than the rest of the population, according to the researchers.

Leonard Egede, co-author of the study, attributes this to structural racism. Egede said racist structures in society have an impact on where people live and their access to healthy food and medical care. He warned of a growing “diabetes injustice.” Study author Ong said tackling the disease requires long-term planning, investment and global attention.

It is estimated that more than 500 million people worldwide live with diabetes, and 95 percent of cases are type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is one of the top ten causes of disability and death. (AFP)

Source : Blick