Abstract by (Zaini, 2000)
Population studies all over the
world have clearly showed that the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM)
is escalating at phenomenal scale and very likely we are heading towards
epidemic proportions.
In 1985, the estimated population of diabetic
individuals in the world was 30 million but by 1995 this figure soared to 135
million. Based on current trends, epidemiologists predict that the population
of diabetic individuals will swell up to a staggering 300 million by the year
2025. Almost half of that will be in the Asia Oceania region alone. Dr Hilary
King of WHO pointed out that there will be a projected rise of about 42% in
developed countries whereas the developing countries will see an escalation to
the magnitude of 170% (H. King, R.E. Aubert, W.H. Herman, Global burden of
diabetes, 1995–2025: prevalence, numerical estimates and projections, Diabetes
Care 21 (1998) 1414–1431; WHO Health Report 1997, WHO Switzerland). There will
be a 3-fold rise of the disease in Asia and much of these will be seen in China
(40 million) and India (55 million) by virtue of the massive population of
these countries.
Nevertheless, the other rapidly
developing Asian nations like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and those making up
Indochina will experience the surge. At the same time the prevalence and
incidence of diabetes complications will also increase. Based on recent WHO
prediction (WHO Newsletter, The global burden of diabetes 1995–2025. World
Diabetes 3 (1997) 5–6), it is estimated that by the year 2000 the following figures
will be seen:
Taiwan 35% with retinopathy
Japan 35% with nephropathy
Thailand 20%
nephropathy
Sri Lanka 12%
cardiovascular disease
Diabetes complications are major causes of premature death
all over the world and most of these are avoidable. DCCT and UKPDS are landmark
studies showing strong evidence that major complications can be drastically
reduced by maintaining to near normoglycaemic control.
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