Global Burden of Diabetes- Rising Expenditures on Healthcare Economy

Abstract

The dynamics of the diabetes epidemic are changing rapidly. It is a matter of concern on global scale from a public health perspective and also in relation to rising societal costs. Once a disease of the West, type 2 diabetes has now spread to every country in the world from affluence to poor. The rising cost and ever increasing burden on health care resources to treat and monitor diabetes and its complications put a heavy financial and manpower burden on national health care systems. Asia’s large population and rapid economic development have made it an epicenter of the epidemic. Asian populations tend to develop diabetes at younger ages and lower BMI levels than Caucasians. Interactions between Westernized diet and lifestyle and genetic background may accelerate the growth of diabetes in the context of rapid nutrition transition. This epidemic is primarily driven by rapid urbanization, nutrition transition, and increasingly sedentary lifestyles. It reflects affluence and exposure to increased calorie intake in combination with sedentary lifestyle and less human energy expenditure. However, primary prevention through changes in public policies, the food and built environments, health systems and promotion of a healthy diet and lifestyle should be a global public policy priority.