Health
World Health Day 2016 – Diabetes
T
he World Health Organisation
(WHO) predicts that by 2030,
diabetes will be the leading
cause of death. According
to WHO, in 2012, the disease was
responsible for approximately 1.5
million deaths, with 80% of those
occurring in low-income countries.
April 7, 2016 is being acknowledged as
World Health Day. In keeping with the
focus on diabetes, we have included
some information below that you may
find useful.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic disease that
occurs either when the pancreas does
not produce enough insulin or when
the body cannot effectively use the
insulin it produces. Insulin, a hormone
that regulates blood sugar, gives us
the energy that we need to live. If it
cannot get into the cells to be burned
as energy, sugar builds up to harmful
levels in the blood.
What are other health
problems that result from
diabetes?
Over time, high blood sugar can
seriously compromise every major
organ system in the body, causing
heart attacks, strokes, nerve damage,
kidney failure, blindness, impotence
and infections that can lead to
amputations.
Cardiovascular disease is responsible
for between 50% and 80% of deaths
in people with diabetes. Diabetes
has become one of the major causes
of premature illness and death in
most countries, mainly through the
increased risk of cardiovascular
disease (CVD).
Diabetes is a leading cause of
blindness, amputation and kidney
failure
Lack of awareness about diabetes,
combined with insufficient access
How many types are there?
There are 2 main forms of the diabetes.
People with type 1 diabetes typically
make none of their own insulin and
therefore require insulin injections to
survive.
People with type 2 diabetes, the form
that comprises some 90% of cases,
usually produce their own insulin,
but not enough or they are unable to
use it properly. People with type 2
diabetes are typically overweight and
sedentary, 2 conditions that raise a
person’s insulin needs.
A third type of diabetes is gestational
diabetes. This type is characterized
by hyperglycaemia, or raised blood
sugar, with values above normal but
below those diagnostic of diabetes,
occurring during pregnancy. Women
with gestational diabetes are at an
increased risk of complications during
pregnancy and at delivery. They
are also at increased risk of type 2
diabetes in the future.
Can it be prevented?
Type 2 diabetes can be prevented.
Thirty minutes of moderate-intensity
physical activity on most days and a
healthy diet can drastically reduce the
risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes cannot be preve