[nasional_list] [ppiindia] Diabetes: Asia's silent killer
- From: "Ambon" <sea@xxxxxxxxxx>
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- Date: Sun, 6 Nov 2005 00:30:28 +0100
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**http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/geted.pl5?eo20051028a1.htm
Diabetes: Asia's silent killer
By PAUL ZIMMET
Special to The Japan Times
You could be forgiven for thinking communicable illnesses, like HIV/AIDS,
and the newly feared bird flu, are the major disease threats for Asia in the
next and coming decades.
After all, an APEC meeting has been called to focus on bird flu, scientists are
fretting over a bird-flu vaccine, and Asian bird-flu casualties are being cited
as early signs of a potential pandemic.
Every year we hear the increased Asian death forecasts for HIV/AIDS, as the
disease continues its relentless march of devastation in the region.
It would be foolish in any way to discount the potential impact of these
diseases. But a much greater health concern that looms on the horizon risks
being overlooked: Diabetes.
Diabetes is far more certain than bird flu to prematurely claim millions of
lives. Similarly diabetes-related deaths in Asia over the next few decades will
dwarf those caused by HIV/AIDS.
Sound like a stretch?
Not according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which has just released a
report claiming chronic diseases, dominated by diabetes, now cause twice the
number of deaths than infectious diseases (including HIV), maternal/perinatal
conditions and nutritional deficiencies combined.
The report, "Preventing Chronic Diseases: A Vital Investment," claims this
trend will continue.
In the next decade, the number of global lives claimed by diabetes is set to
grow by a quarter, driven by rising obesity and inactivity. It could cause the
first life-expectancy reduction in more than 200 years. And nowhere is the
problem more serious than in Asia.
In Asia there are now 90 million people with diabetes. Asia is home to four of
the world's five largest diabetic populations -- India, 33 million people with
diabetes; China, 23 million; Pakistan, 9 million; and Japan, 7 million.
Globally the WHO estimates the global diabetes population will grow to more
than 200 million in 2010 and 330 million in 2025. The burden in Asia will
increase -- in less than a decade 60 percent of all diabetes cases globally
will be in Asia.
Asia should be in a state of panic. While diabetes can be treated, with limited
access to treatments a majority of people affected will die prematurely.
Even with treatments, diabetes kills people prematurely, as well as rob them of
their quality of life, and put significant strain on resources.
There is a common misconception that diabetes is not lethal, with deaths often
attributed to complications rather than the disease itself. But diabetes puts
people at risk of many diseases, and premature death, as it causes damage to
many body tissues, and progresses to strokes, heart disease, kidney failure,
blindness, susceptibility to serious infections and amputations due to loss of
circulation.
Diabetes has crept up on Asia with progressive Westernization of its countries,
which has seen the adoption of fatty food diets and sedentary lifestyles.
Disturbingly the non-insulin dependent variety of diabetes (type 2), with
typical onset in late adulthood in most parts of the world, is surfacing in
children in Asia.
With scare health resources, Asia is ill-prepared to tackle diabetes
effectively and is likely to be distracted by more immediate threats such as
bird flu, which is being addressed by countries outside the region.
There is also a lack of recognition of the problem with many governments and
public-health planners in Asia who remain largely unaware of the future
potential for increases in obesity and diabetes, and the serious issues that
accompany them.
Unless this situation is rectified, there will be a huge economic burden on
Asia -- both from direct health-care costs plus indirect costs from a decline
in workplace productivity. In addition there will be losses from premature
morbidity and mortality.
Diabetes could cripple the budgets of Asian nations, particularly in developing
nations. Diabetes is expected to cost the larger Asian economies up to $500
billion each in the next decade due to lost productivity and premature deaths.
At the 6th International Diabetes Federation conference for Asia, being held in
Bangkok this week, I will predict that when the history of this century is
written it will be diabetes, not bird flu or HIV/AIDS, that will have had the
most devastating impact on the Asia-Pacific region.
There is no doubt that if bird flu is serious enough to warrant an APEC meeting
later this year, a similar meeting on diabetes is long overdue.
Diabetes has to be addressed in a significant way in Asia. It is a killer
disease that we are not prepared for, with the potential to claim millions of
lives.
Professor Paul Zimmet is director of the International Diabetes Institute and
head of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for the Epidemiology
of Diabetes.
The Japan Times: Oct. 28, 2005
(C) All rights reserved
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