Come November, the global community joins hands with a myriad of activities, including in-person events and awareness campaigns, to shine a spotlight on the escalating prevalence of diabetes, its impact, and also to enlighten people on practical tips for prevention.
Diabetes cases have increased from 4.7 to 8.5 per cent in the adult population globally, and its prevalence has almost doubled. According to the International Diabetes Foundation, in 2021, diabetes caused 6.7 million deaths, and 1 in 11 adults, or 463 million, were living with diabetes in 2022. It’s expected to increase to 643 million in 2030 and 783 million in 2045.
About 44 per cent of adults with diabetes, or about 240 million people, do not know they have diabetes. Most of them have type 2 diabetes, which can be prevented with a few lifestyle changes.
Due to not knowing the signs and symptoms and not getting an early diagnosis, around 541 million adults are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
“This has become a top global concern, prompting the need to reduce the risk through awareness programmes and quality diabetes education platforms. The aim is to educate individuals on managing and preventing diabetes in its early stages”, the Foundation points out in a report.
Type 2 diabetes is a condition that can be prevented and managed by adopting proper lifestyle habits. Unfortunately, all too many people struggle to break away from a sedentary lifestyle and ensure that they engage in ample physical activity each day.
"Sedentary lifestyles make it one of the more serious yet insufficiently addressed public health problems of our time", states a World Health Organisation (WHO) report. This has worrying implications for future health, as physical inactivity is one of the main risk factors for death, it adds.
The number of people leading sedentary lifestyles is increasing due to a rise in occupational behaviours such as long office hours, increased use of electronic devices, and travel. Accordingly, the prevalence of relevant non-communicable diseases has registered a steep increase.
Studies show that 31 per cent of the global population consists of inactive individuals over the age of 15. This contributes to the deaths of 3.2 million people annually. It is estimated that nearly two-thirds of children are also insufficiently active, with serious implications for their future health.
While describing sedentary lifestyles as being among the 10 leading causes of death and disability in the world, the United Nations' health agency reveals that of the premature deaths, 86 per cent are estimated to occur in low- and middle-income countries.
Children, adults, and the elderly are all vulnerable to risk factors, whether from unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, and exposure to tobacco smoke, or the harmful use of alcohol or air pollution.
Among the preventive measures recommended by WHO are moderate physical activity for up to 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week or 75 minutes each week of strenuous physical activity, tobacco cessation, and healthy nutrition. While ultimate responsibility may rest with each individual, our lifestyle affects us not just individually but also has an impact on our surroundings and, thus, on society.
Living healthfully at every stage of life means being aware of your body, its conditions, and its changing demands as you grow older!
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
