Diabetes ravages emerging nations in Asia, Africa
Diabetes ravages emerging nations in Asia, Africa
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Dataw ... 2&si=44594
Diabetes patients in Asia and Africa are projected to total 560 million by 2045 as affluence and urbanization lead to changes in
Diabetes ravages emerging nations in Asia, Africa
Number of patients projected to jump 50% by 2045 as dietary habits change
RYOSUKE HANADA and KOSUKE INOUE, Nikkei staff writersFebruary 11, 2023 16:10 JST
MUMBAI/BANGKOK -- The number of diabetes patients is surging in Asia and Africa as more people become obese due to COVID-related curbs on outdoor activities and their dietary habits change amid economic growth.
In Pakistan, there were 5.2 times more diabetes patients in 2021 than a decade earlier. Of the population from ages 20 to 79, 30% have developed diabetes. "Earlier in Pakistan, diabetes would affect people of 40 years of age, but gradually [came to affect those] in 30s, then 20s, and now we can find in teenagers type two of diabetes," said Matiullah Khan, an endocrinologist at the Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad.
If left untreated, diabetes can lead to serious complications, such as heart disease, strokes and blindness.
"There is widespread lack of education and awareness among general masses in Pakistan about diabetes. People [tend] to take it less serious as compared to heart ailments," said an official at the nonprofit Diabetes Center in Islamabad. "At government level, there is no education and awareness policy to tackle soaring number of diabetic patients in Pakistan."
Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or the body cannot use the hormone well. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the insulin-producing cells fail to work, while Type 2 diabetes results when the body cannot keep blood sugar at normal levels due to obesity or a lack of physical activity. Type 2 accounts for 90% of the world's diabetes patients.
Diabetes by itself is the ninth-leading cause of death globally, according to the World Health Organization. But if sugar in the bloodstream remains high, it can damage blood vessels, increasing the risk of developing such complications as ischemic heart disease, the leading cause of death. Treating diabetes is expensive because it requires regular medications, and some patients also find it difficult to make the lifestyle changes needed for treatment.
People in emerging nations are particularly vulnerable to diabetes. The total number of diabetes patients in Asia and Africa is forecast to reach 560 million by 2045, up 50% from 2021, according to the International Diabetes Federation. The number is projected to rise 70% to 220 million in South Asia, while sub-Saharan Africa is expected to see a 2.3-fold jump to 55 million. In contrast, increases in Europe and North America are expected to be slight at 1.1 to 1.2 times.
The number of patients suffering from Type 2 diabetes is growing in emerging countries as their diets improve with economic development. Daily calorie intake per capita rose 43% in Vietnam and 39% in Ethiopia over the 20 years through 2018, compared to a global average of 8%. The number of diabetes patients rose 130% in Vietnam and 40% in Ethiopia in the decade through 2021.
Traditional staple foods in Asia and Africa are low in calories and fat, but foods high in both categories have become available with the globalization of Western diets. As the number of fast-food restaurants increases in urban areas, people have more opportunities to eat foods rich in carbohydrates and fat, leading to an increase in obesity and diabetes. Half of Pakistan's adult population is now considered obese, according to one study.
The spread of the novel coronavirus made the situation worse as various restrictions were imposed on people's daily activities. The global average of steps that a person walked daily was 4,997 from May to November in 2021, down 10% from the pre-pandemic level, according to a study by Geoffrey H. Tison, a cardiologist and assistant professor at the University of California, San Francisco and other researchers who analyzed data from the Azumio Argus smartphone app. In Asia, the number fell 30%.
"Even North America and Europe, which were among the first countries to lift restrictions relevant to COVID-19, have not [seen the level of exercise] recovered to pre-COVID-19 level," Tison said. Unless people engage in more physical activity, the number of diabetes patients will likely increase and the condition of existing patients will worsen.
Along with exercise, dietary control is the key to preventing diabetes or staying healthy after the onset of the disease. Some emerging countries have adopted measures to discourage the excessive drinking of sweetened beverages. Thailand plans to raise its sugar tax by 1.6 to 3.3 times, depending on the level of sugar in beverages, effective as of April. South Africa is also considering raising its sugar tax.
Still, education can make people aware of the importance of daily diet. "Government should do campaign to [tell] people, as well as children in the school, about how [important] diets are for their healthy life," said Ruchirek Thamcharoen, an endocrinologist at the Royal Thai Navy's Somdejphranangchaosirikit Hospital.
Diabetes patients in Asia and Africa are projected to total 560 million by 2045 as affluence and urbanization lead to changes in
Diabetes ravages emerging nations in Asia, Africa
Number of patients projected to jump 50% by 2045 as dietary habits change
RYOSUKE HANADA and KOSUKE INOUE, Nikkei staff writersFebruary 11, 2023 16:10 JST
MUMBAI/BANGKOK -- The number of diabetes patients is surging in Asia and Africa as more people become obese due to COVID-related curbs on outdoor activities and their dietary habits change amid economic growth.
In Pakistan, there were 5.2 times more diabetes patients in 2021 than a decade earlier. Of the population from ages 20 to 79, 30% have developed diabetes. "Earlier in Pakistan, diabetes would affect people of 40 years of age, but gradually [came to affect those] in 30s, then 20s, and now we can find in teenagers type two of diabetes," said Matiullah Khan, an endocrinologist at the Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad.
If left untreated, diabetes can lead to serious complications, such as heart disease, strokes and blindness.
"There is widespread lack of education and awareness among general masses in Pakistan about diabetes. People [tend] to take it less serious as compared to heart ailments," said an official at the nonprofit Diabetes Center in Islamabad. "At government level, there is no education and awareness policy to tackle soaring number of diabetic patients in Pakistan."
Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or the body cannot use the hormone well. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the insulin-producing cells fail to work, while Type 2 diabetes results when the body cannot keep blood sugar at normal levels due to obesity or a lack of physical activity. Type 2 accounts for 90% of the world's diabetes patients.
Diabetes by itself is the ninth-leading cause of death globally, according to the World Health Organization. But if sugar in the bloodstream remains high, it can damage blood vessels, increasing the risk of developing such complications as ischemic heart disease, the leading cause of death. Treating diabetes is expensive because it requires regular medications, and some patients also find it difficult to make the lifestyle changes needed for treatment.
People in emerging nations are particularly vulnerable to diabetes. The total number of diabetes patients in Asia and Africa is forecast to reach 560 million by 2045, up 50% from 2021, according to the International Diabetes Federation. The number is projected to rise 70% to 220 million in South Asia, while sub-Saharan Africa is expected to see a 2.3-fold jump to 55 million. In contrast, increases in Europe and North America are expected to be slight at 1.1 to 1.2 times.
The number of patients suffering from Type 2 diabetes is growing in emerging countries as their diets improve with economic development. Daily calorie intake per capita rose 43% in Vietnam and 39% in Ethiopia over the 20 years through 2018, compared to a global average of 8%. The number of diabetes patients rose 130% in Vietnam and 40% in Ethiopia in the decade through 2021.
Traditional staple foods in Asia and Africa are low in calories and fat, but foods high in both categories have become available with the globalization of Western diets. As the number of fast-food restaurants increases in urban areas, people have more opportunities to eat foods rich in carbohydrates and fat, leading to an increase in obesity and diabetes. Half of Pakistan's adult population is now considered obese, according to one study.
The spread of the novel coronavirus made the situation worse as various restrictions were imposed on people's daily activities. The global average of steps that a person walked daily was 4,997 from May to November in 2021, down 10% from the pre-pandemic level, according to a study by Geoffrey H. Tison, a cardiologist and assistant professor at the University of California, San Francisco and other researchers who analyzed data from the Azumio Argus smartphone app. In Asia, the number fell 30%.
"Even North America and Europe, which were among the first countries to lift restrictions relevant to COVID-19, have not [seen the level of exercise] recovered to pre-COVID-19 level," Tison said. Unless people engage in more physical activity, the number of diabetes patients will likely increase and the condition of existing patients will worsen.
Along with exercise, dietary control is the key to preventing diabetes or staying healthy after the onset of the disease. Some emerging countries have adopted measures to discourage the excessive drinking of sweetened beverages. Thailand plans to raise its sugar tax by 1.6 to 3.3 times, depending on the level of sugar in beverages, effective as of April. South Africa is also considering raising its sugar tax.
Still, education can make people aware of the importance of daily diet. "Government should do campaign to [tell] people, as well as children in the school, about how [important] diets are for their healthy life," said Ruchirek Thamcharoen, an endocrinologist at the Royal Thai Navy's Somdejphranangchaosirikit Hospital.
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armchairlawyer
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Re: Diabetes ravages emerging nations in Asia, Africa
The article does not mention the problem of Thai rice. It has a high glycemic index and a high glycemic load, meaning it is basically a leading cause of diabetes (when eaten in the quantities that Thais do) and a bad thing to eat if you already have it.
This is going to be a tough thing for Thais to admit.
Basmati rice is much healthier.
This is going to be a tough thing for Thais to admit.
Basmati rice is much healthier.
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Little_Vicious
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Re: Diabetes ravages emerging nations in Asia, Africa
I shudder to think what the barrage of delivery milk tea with 125% sugar did to these kids who sat in front of their screens for about two years of pandemic learning.
Re: Diabetes ravages emerging nations in Asia, Africa
You just need to look at how many fatties you see in Bangkok nowadays, compared with 15 years ago. It's mind-boggling and saddening. Unfortunately for them, fat people aren't merely an eyesore, they're also sabotaging their health.
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Jerry Atrick
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Re: Diabetes ravages emerging nations in Asia, Africa
Yeah, not just Bangkok either, there's a surfeit of obese cunts everywhere
Re: Diabetes ravages emerging nations in Asia, Africa
Seeing the same in Saigon, too....
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Random Dude
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Re: Diabetes ravages emerging nations in Asia, Africa
I can see how it happens too. People with more money than previous generations tend to feed their kids well, not necessarily healthy food, but lots of it.
They have access to junk food, sugary drinks etc that weren't around in previous generations. They have the internet and video games and spend hours in front of a screen rather than kicking a ball around after school or helping out on the farm like their parents probably did at that age. They probably spend a lot more time studying than their parents and grandparents did, because previous generations never had the opportunity so this generation is pushed to spend a lot more time hitting the books.
I don't remember who said it and I'm paraphrasing here, but 'obesity is a symptom of affluence in a developing society, and often a symptom of poverty in a developed society' - I think because it costs more to eat healthy, play sports etc in a developed country, and junk food is cheap.
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Jerry Atrick
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Re: Diabetes ravages emerging nations in Asia, Africa
Yeah, plus many locals might not necessarily have been exposed to any sort of nutritional education/food science as part of education and simply are not aware of sugar/sodium and other ingredients that are harmful in excess amounts being present in their diets and consumed productsRandom Dude wrote: ↑Mon Feb 13, 2023 2:02 pmI can see how it happens too. People with more money than previous generations tend to feed their kids well, not necessarily healthy food, but lots of it.
They have access to junk food, sugary drinks etc that weren't around in previous generations. They have the internet and video games and spend hours in front of a screen rather than kicking a ball around after school or helping out on the farm like their parents probably did at that age. They probably spend a lot more time studying than their parents and grandparents did, because previous generations never had the opportunity so this generation is pushed to spend a lot more time hitting the books.
I don't remember who said it and I'm paraphrasing here, but 'obesity is a symptom of affluence in a developing society, and often a symptom of poverty in a developed society' - I think because it costs more to eat healthy, play sports etc in a developed country, and junk food is cheap.
I have kids and some of the shit that gets marketed towards kids is criminal; "Milk" drinks that are 75% sugar, snacks full of sugar, palm oil and colourings etc. Their mum is aware of this and will sometimes buy something on the grounds that it has "skaa touch touch" - but an ingredients check will tell otherwise normally
Re: Diabetes ravages emerging nations in Asia, Africa
Just watched a very good podcast on the same, very much as @Random Dude laid out, and also digs into some facts & dispels some myths along the way. I figured some of this out along the way into my 40s, good to see there is actually some solid science behind it & how food isn't the same for everyone (capt. obv).
Meum est propositum in taberna mori,
ut sint Guinness proxima morientis ori.
tunc cantabunt letius angelorum chori:
"Sit Deus propitius huic potatori."
ut sint Guinness proxima morientis ori.
tunc cantabunt letius angelorum chori:
"Sit Deus propitius huic potatori."
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Freightdog
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Re: Diabetes ravages emerging nations in Asia, Africa
I used to wonder at the the number of diabetes clinics in and around Dhaka, and Bangladesh in general, but largely the cities. I’ve not lived there for over a decade, now, though.
Your average local, there, was not dissimilar to your average Khmer. Slight of build in the main, except some of the middle classes who were ostentatious and prone to excess. Sugar, as well as rice, was common across all society. The standard was to bring a sweet desert.
The other half at the time had a very slight of frame family, and many had varying degrees of diabetic issues. Her father was largely immobilised by diabetic issues, including several toes lost to circulatory issues.
Diabetes was a big problem. Dengue, though, was a killer and seemingly got more real attention.
While it is essential that modern dietary influences are recognised, I do think that to assume that that is all there is to, it is to be missing some very serious influences.
Your average local, there, was not dissimilar to your average Khmer. Slight of build in the main, except some of the middle classes who were ostentatious and prone to excess. Sugar, as well as rice, was common across all society. The standard was to bring a sweet desert.
The other half at the time had a very slight of frame family, and many had varying degrees of diabetic issues. Her father was largely immobilised by diabetic issues, including several toes lost to circulatory issues.
Diabetes was a big problem. Dengue, though, was a killer and seemingly got more real attention.
While it is essential that modern dietary influences are recognised, I do think that to assume that that is all there is to, it is to be missing some very serious influences.
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