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40+ Powerful Diabetes Statistics to Raise Awareness in 2021

diabetes

When it comes to diabetes, knowledge is the key. Many people aren’t aware of what puts them in a risk group for type 1 or type 2 diabetes. They don’t know how to postpone, prevent, or adequately manage it. 

Diabetes statistics will continue to skyrocket until people learn that their current lifestyles are putting them at risk. 

Our team put together some of the key statistics to help spread awareness. Although type 1 diabetes is unpredictable and unstoppable, the situation is manageable in type 2 diabetes. Also, the more people know, the higher their chances of changing their lifestyle and protecting themselves.

  • There are 187,000 adolescents under 20 that have type 1 diabetes.
  • Type 1 diabetes could shorten a man’s life by 11 years.
  • 90–95% of diabetes cases are type 2 diabetes.
  • 15-30% of prediabetes patients will develop type 2 diabetes within five years.
  • Diabetes mellitus accounted for 3.1% of deaths in America in 2019.
  • Low- and middle-income (LMIC) countries account for 80% of diabetes cases worldwide.
  • Kidney failure occurs in 10-40% of patients with type 2 diabetes.
  • 16% of diabetic patients that are 65 years or older die from a stroke.
  • 10% of diabetic COVID-19 patients die within seven days of hospitalization.
  • 1 in 3 American adults has prediabetes.

Continue reading to get the rest of the facts and statistics on a national and global level, find out how to prevent or postpone it, and learn the differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes Statistics

A lot, yet very little is known about type 1 diabetes. Although we know what comes after one is diagnosed, it’s still unknown what causes it aside from potential family risk factors. 

This autoimmune disease reduces your pancreas’ function by destroying its cells, preventing your body from making insulin properly. 

Although it cannot be prevented, postponed, or cured, there are ways to manage it through insulin, dietary supplements, diet, exercise, and various medications.

1. CDC diabetes statistics reveal that there are 187,000 adolescents under 20 that have type 1 diabetes. 

(Center for Disease Control)

In the United States, 210,000 adolescents and children are diagnosed with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. However, the majority are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, as the prevalence rate of type 1 diabetes in the younger generation is much higher than type 2 diabetes.

2. Type 1 diabetes facts reveal that of all people diagnosed with diabetes, only 10% are with type 1 diabetes. 

(International Diabetes Federation)

Although anyone can get diabetes at just about any age, it is more prominent in adults, except for type 1 diabetes. There is still no clear information about the risk factors of getting type 1 diabetes, but the risk is slightly higher if you have a family member with diabetes.

3. There are at least 13 symptoms of type 1 diabetes.

(Center for Disease Control) (Medical News Today)

Symptoms usually accompany diseases, and type 1 diabetes is no exception. According to diabetes facts from 2020, signs of type 1 diabetes can be challenging to detect as some don’t appear serious. Still, it’s recommended to consult your doctor for a blood sugar test if you observe any of the following:

  • Frequent urination
  • Severe thirst
  • Loss of weight
  • Unusual hunger
  • Blurry vision
  • Numbness or tingling of hands or feet
  • Tiredness, dry skin
  • Slow-healing sores
  • Frequent infections
  • Nausea, vomiting
  • Stomach pain

4. The Center for Disease Control diabetes statistics reveal that, in 2020, 1.4 million adults over 20 have type 1 diabetes.

(Center for Disease Control)

Furthermore, this number makes up 5.2% of all adults in the United States diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and controlling it by using insulin. Of the adults with type 1 diabetes, 10.9%, or 2.9 million, reported that they started using insulin within one after their diagnosis. 

5. The facts about type 1 diabetes reveal that having it could shorten a man’s life by 11 years. 

(dLife)

Furthermore, women with type 1 diabetes could have their life shortened by 13 years in comparison to the average lifespan of a woman. Since type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed earlier in life, diagnosed individuals live longer with the disease than those with type 2 diabetes—the impact on the health of those with type 1 diabetes results in a shortened lifespan. 

6. According to childhood diabetes statistics, there were 1,106,500 cases worldwide in 2017.   

(European Society of Cardiology) 

This number doesn’t represent all age groups with type 1 diabetes. This statistic only covers the age group of zero to 19 years. 

Furthermore, the same report states an annual incidence of new type 1 diabetes cases of 132,600. This leads us to believe that there must be a lot more to just family history associated with these recent cases, including a much-needed change in children’s lifestyle. 

Type 2 Diabetes Statistics

Unlike type 1 diabetes, it is possible to postpone or even prevent type 2 diabetes. On that note, it’s very likely to increase the risks as well. 

Knowing the factors that increase your chances of type 2 diabetes is the first step to protecting yourself, even within uncontrolled risk groups. Read more interesting type 2 diabetes facts and stats below and see what actions you can take so you don’t become part of the statistics.

7. Type 2 diabetes statistics from 2019 show that 44% of individuals have lived with type 2 diabetes for more than nine years. 

(International Diabetes Federation)

The percentage of individuals who have lived with diabetes for six to nine years is 16%, while that of those living with type 2 diabetes for three to six years is slightly more at 18%. The frightening percentage of individuals living with type 2 diabetes from zero to three years is 22%.

8. There are at least eight risk factors for type 2 diabetes.

(Center for Disease Control)

Many diseases develop due to underlying health conditions or other factors. The CDC updated us with fresh diabetes facts in 2020, stating that people with specific characteristics are at higher risk of developing type-2 diabetes than those without them. 

Some of the significant risk factors include:

  • Being overweight
  • Being a prediabetes patient
  • An age of over 45
  • Having a family member with type 2 diabetes
  • Too little physical activity–less than thrice weekly
  • A history of gestational diabetes
  • A history of birthing a baby weighing more than 9 pounds
  • Belonging to any of the following races–African American, American Indian, Alaska Native, Latino/Hispanic American

9. Facts about type 2 diabetes reveal that urban life could be a factor that increases prevalence. 

(International Diabetes Federation)

This is backed by the fact that the incidence of diabetes in urban areas reaches 10.8%, while in rural areas, it is 3.5% less, at 7.2%. The urbanized lifestyle has proven to be more sedentary than rural. 

Furthermore, the unhealthy habits of those who prefer living in cities over rural areas include eating more processed foods and having a higher calorie intake, which reflects the above numbers.

10. Making changes to your lifestyle will prevent or delay type-2 diabetes.

(Healthline)

Like we saw in previous diabetes statistics, prediabetes often precedes type-2 diabetes, but there are ways to prevent or delay it. Here’s how:

  • Cut back on your sugar or refined-carb intake, and exercise regularly.
  • Watch your consumption of beverages as they often contain sugar, preservatives, and other predisposing ingredients. Stick to water instead.
  • Obese or overweight people should work on shedding excess fat. Note that you can look skinny and still possess too much fat.
  • Eliminate any habit of smoking, and live on low-carb diets.
  • Do not overeat, as this can increase blood sugar.
  • Don’t live a sedentary lifestyle.
  • Eat a diet that’s high in fibre, and get enough vitamin D.
  • Be wary of processed foods–take coffee or tea daily.
  • Consume natural herbs like curcumin and berberine.

11. CDC diabetes stats reveal that 90–95% of diabetes cases are type 2 diabetes.

(Center for Disease Control)

What percentage of diabetes patients have type 2?

Type 2 diabetes is a lot more prominent than type 1. The majority of all diabetes cases are type 2. This is because it’s mainly a lifestyle disease, and its numbers have risen dramatically over the years. 

In the past, it was infrequent to see a child with type 2 diabetes, but it has become more and more common, further increasing the numbers.

12. The WHO and the UN are taking action to reduce the stats on diabetes by 30% by 2030.

(Diabetes Atlas) 

The United Nations and the World Health Organization are working towards improving healthcare and reducing premature deaths from diseases that are non-communicable. 

It’s important to note that type 2 diabetes can be prevented. Its complications can be avoided for those that have it, and the disease can be managed with early diagnosis and access to proper medication and dietary supplements.

13. 15-30% of prediabetes patients will develop type 2 diabetes within five years.

(diaTribe)

However, the good news is that 5–10% of prediabetes victims will also revert to normal blood sugar levels, as proven by recent statistics of diabetes. The primary factor determining whether or not a patient graduates to type 2 diabetes is their HbA1c or A1c (glycated hemoglobin) test reading or FPG (fasting plasma glucose) test reading.

The A1c value for prediabetes is between 5.7-6.4%, while for FBG, it sits between 100-125 mg/dl. This means that patients with an A1c value sitting towards the 6.4% mark or an FPG value of close to the 125mg/dL point have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and decreasing the average age of death in the US. The reverse is the case in patients having test values closer to the lower boundary.

14. Retrospective diabetes statistics reveal that 5,758 children aged 10 to 19 years are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

(Center for Disease Control)

The unfortunate numbers continue to go up every year, with a significant increase between 2002 and 2015 in child type 2 diabetes. The facts reveal that one of the leading causes of type 2 diabetes — an unhealthy and sedentary lifestyle — has started to affect children dramatically. More and more children will be at risk unless drastic changes are made toward a healthier lifestyle.

Diabetes Statistics in America

The United States leads in diabetes cases worldwide, both type 1 and type 2. Easy access to unhealthy fast food, lack of exercise, and overall unhealthy everyday lifestyle have led to not only an increase in diabetes cases but also a drop in the average age group in type 2 diabetes. Below, you will find some of the most disturbing numbers concerning diabetes in the US. 

15. Diabetes Statistics for 2018 show that 34.2 million Americans had diabetes in that year.

(American Diabetes Association)

From a percentile point of view, this is 10.5% of the US population. Furthermore, 1.6 million were Americans who had type 1 diabetes. This number includes approximately 187,000 children. 

On average, as per 2018 statistics, 1.5 million people in the US are diagnosed yearly, but the prevalence in seniors, however, is still among the highest, at 14.3 million in the US alone.

16. Diabetes mellitus accounted for 3.1% of deaths in America in 2019.

(Statista) (WebMD) (Center for Disease Control)

In 2019 alone, diabetes mellitus killed 87,647 people in America. You may ask, how many people die from diabetes around the world? The short answer is millions.

High blood sugar and insulin destroy the body gradually, and much of this damage can be permanent. If the situation continues for years untreated, the blood vessels, nerves, and vital organs get severely hit. Even small blood vessels in the eyes, kidneys, heart, and brain are not spared. 

As a result of this damage to these organs, conditions like blindness, stroke, heart attack, and a host of others arise. It is these resulting conditions that end up killing the patient.

17. The National Diabetes Statistics Report revealed that, in 2018, there were 1.5 million diabetes cases in over 18-year-olds. 

(Center for Disease Control)

This means that in 2018, every 6.9 of 1,000 persons were diagnosed with diabetes. However, the incidence rates were much higher among adults over 45 years. 

The 45 to 64-year-olds were the age group with the highest incidence rates for 2018, with 706,000 diagnosed patients that year.

18. Obesity is the leading risk factor of type 2 diabetes, followed by five other factors.

(Center for Disease Control) (Mayo Clinic)

According to diabetes statistics for 2020 by the CDC, the reason for this is not far-fetched–fatty tissues make your cell more resistant to insulin.

Also, 68.4% of these diabetic patients had high blood pressure, 43.5% had high cholesterol, and 38% didn’t participate in substantial physical activities. What’s more, 50% of them had an A1C value of at least 7.0%.

19. The National Diabetes Statistics Report for 2019 shows that 89% of US adults over 18 diagnosed with diabetes were overweight or had obesity.

(Center for Disease Control)

Being overweight or obese is defined by having a body mass index of 25 kg/m2 or higher, and it’s one of the leading causes of diabetes. The majority (45.8%) of this percent were classified as obese or having a BMI of 30–39.9 kg/m2. 

Those that were overweight followed at 27.6%, with a BMI of  25–29.9 kg/m2. Those with extreme obesity or those with a BMI above 40 kg/m2 were at 15.5%.

20. In 2017, diabetes was among the top ten leading causes of death in the US, as per stats of diabetes.

(Center for Disease Control)

Diabetes deaths took seventh place as a leading cause of death in the US. 

This ranking is based on the 83,564 death certificates that had diabetes listed as an underlying cause for the patient’s death. 

This number represents 25.7 deaths with diabetes as an underlying cause for every 100,000 deaths.

21. Amputations as a result of diabetes are on the rise.

(Next Step Bionics and Prosthetics)

Amputation had been in decline for years before picking up the pace lately, as shown by recent study reports by the American Diabetes Association. However, why’s this the case? United States diabetes statistics towards amputation show that the condition is not being appropriately managed.

In Italy, people admitted due to foot problems resulting from diabetes are three times more likely to be amputated than usual the previous year.

According to diabetes and amputation statistics, high blood sugar levels damage the nerves and blood vessels and result in a condition known as peripheral artery disease (PAD). PAD prevents sufficient blood from reaching the legs and feet, consequently leading to ulcers that may only be treated by amputation. The bad news is that once a patient has one amputation, they are at a greater risk of another, especially in uncontrolled diabetes.

22. The current National Diabetes Statistics Report shows that $327 billion was the estimated direct and indirect cost of diagnosed diabetes in the US.

(Center for Disease Control)

The estimated direct costs of the diagnosed diabetes increased from $188 billion in 2012 to $237 billion in 2017, while the indirect costs went from $73 billion in 2012 to $90 billion by 2017. 

Overall, the high medical costs per individual diagnosed with diabetes went from $8,417 to $9,601 for the same period. 

Diabetes Statistics Worldwide  

Worldwide statistics are more than alarming. Millions worldwide are diagnosed with diabetes, and many more live their lives undiagnosed. Once, type 2 diabetes was a disease that may come with old age. 

Today, more and more of the young population is diagnosed, revealing the frightening facts about our lifestyles. 

23. Low- and middle-income (LMIC) countries account for 80% of diabetic patients worldwide.

(NCBI) (OUP)

What are the current statistics on diabetes in America compared to low- to middle-income countries? 

In the past, diabetes was primarily a disease of the elderly rich people who predominantly reside in developed countries. However, this disease has long spread all over the world and plagued even primitive societies. 

Today, the poor and middle-class account for 4 out of 5 diabetic patients worldwide, most living in LMIC countries.

Underdeveloped and developing countries are also seeing a spike in certain diseases that have a link with diabetes. 

Tuberculosis, melioidosis, and dengue are some of the conditions that are made worse by diabetes.

24. Alarming diabetes statistics from 2019 reveal that 111 million people over 65 have diabetes worldwide.

(Diabetes Atlas)

It means that one in five people over 65 have diabetes. Unfortunately, these diabetes numbers are expected to grow. 

It is projected that this number will increase to 195 million by 2030 and 276 million by 2045. This isn’t only a personal health issue. It will also bring many economic and public health challenges over the next 25 years.

25. Diabetes caused 4.2 million deaths worldwide in 2019.

(SingleCare) 

The worst part is that the International Disease Federation (IDF) projects a massive surge in global diabetic cases, putting the figures at 700 million patients by 2045. Most diabetics statistics in 2021 appear to back up this forecast.

Diabetes doesn’t kill directly, but indirectly and slowly; this explains why it’s hard to notice on time. Many people, especially the poor, only become aware of their situation only after sustaining extensive damages to their vital organs. Also, poverty is on the rise globally, further increasing the death rate due to diabetes.

The high number of projected cases may be due to the increasing number of people with type 2 diabetes and a worsening of situations that give rise to the condition.

26. Diabetes statistics worldwide for 2018 reveal that the pharmaceutical spending on anti-diabetic products was at $79 billion globally.

(Statista)

Over the last ten years, spending on anti-diabetic products has increased dramatically. In 2008, spending on anti-diabetic products was around $27 billion globally. Anti-diabetic products are usually ingested orally. 

They often go by the name of oral antihyperglycemic agents or oral hypoglycemic agents. Exceptions to these anti-diabetic orally ingested drugs are pramlintide, liraglutide, exenatide, and insulin.

27. Diabetic patients are twice as likely to have heart disease than those without the condition.

(Center for Disease Control) (American Heart Association)

Credible facts about diabetes reveal there are many ways by which diabetes can affect your heart, just like several heart diseases, which are generally termed cardiovascular diseases. 

Diabetes often comes with an abnormal level of cholesterol, which interferes with blood flow to the heart via the hardening of arteries.

In addition, diabetes goes hand in hand with high blood pressure, which damages blood vessels. There’s also a link between hypertension and insulin resistance. 

While both high blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol levels can occur independently, diabetes increases the chances of their occurrence.

According to diabetes statistics for 2021, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. To make matters even worse, diabetes goes hand in hand with heart disease–the longer a patient has diabetes, the more likely they are to experience a heart attack.

28. Diabetes statistics worldwide for 2019 show that only 43% of Europeans understand the risks and know type 2 diabetes.

(International Diabetes Federation)

This puts the European region in first place among all the regions. Second place goes to the Western Pacific region at 33%, followed by Southeast Asia and South and Central America at 7%. 

The Middle East and North Africa (5%), North America and the Caribbean (2%), and Africa (1%) need to work more towards educating the general public about type 2 diabetes. Part of prevention is knowledge, and more needs to be done.

29. Kidney failure is most likely to develop in 10-40% of patients with type 2 diabetes.

(NKF)

US diabetes statistics show that even those with type 1 diabetes are at risk of developing kidney problems–about 30% of them.

Diabetes leads to injury of the blood vessels, including those leading to the kidney, making it difficult for the kidney to cleanse the blood properly. As your blood retains more impurity, the amount of water and salt in the body inadvertently reaches abnormal levels. This can cause the ankles to swell and also lead to weight gain. Your urine may also contain excessive protein levels (e.g., albumin). 

Blood vessels are not the only target for diabetes, as supported by diabetes facts for 2020. Body nerves also get damaged such that emptying the bladder becomes difficult–excess pressure in the bladder can injure the kidneys.

30. Gestational diabetes statistics reveal that 15.8% of women had some type of hyperglycemia during their pregnancy.

(Diabetes Atlas)

The estimation is that this percent represented 20.4 million live births in 2019. Out of these, 83.6% of births were to women with gestational diabetes mellitus. Only 7.9% of the 20.4 million births were to mothers with diabetes diagnosed before the pregnancy, while in 8.5% of the cases, diabetes was detected during the pregnancy.

31. 16% of diabetic patients 65 years or older die of stroke.

(American Heart Association) (American Diabetes Association) (WebMD)

According to the American Diabetes Association’s recent statistics, people with diabetes are generally 1.5 times more likely to suffer a stroke than people without the condition. A stroke occurs when one of the blood vessels supplying oxygen to the brain is blocked or damaged. 

Following this, the affected part of a patient’s brain begins the die after 3 to 4 minutes. Stroke due to a ruptured artery is termed hemorrhagic, while that due to blockage is referred to as an ischemic stroke.

Not only does diabetes lead to stroke, but it also makes it next to impossible for your body to respond adequately to treatment. Once artery damage cuts off oxygen to your brain, other arteries usually act as a bypass. 

However, it doesn’t end here – diabetes affects all your arteries by hardening or clogging them with plaque making it hard for any bypass to work.

32. Obesity and diabetes statistics prove that low levels of urbanization are part of the reasons Africa has the lowest age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes in 2019 (4.7%).

(International Diabetes Federation)

The prognosis continues to be lower than the rest of the regions, with 5.1% in 2030 and 5.2% in 2045. Other possible reasons for this low percent are more moderate levels of obesity, a smaller number of overweight people, and overall under-nutrition. 

However, with continued urbanization of the population, by 2045, it has the most significant percentage increase in all the regions. It is expected to increase by up to 143% for the same period.

Although a healthy diet with vitamins and minerals is the ideal way to maintain your health, quality multi-vitamins and supplements are also a means to provide your body with what it needs. 

A part of reducing high blood sugar and preventing or controlling diabetes means paying attention to your health and nutrition and doing regular exercise. Below are some interesting facts on diabetes that may interest you.

33. Taking alpha-lipoic acid supplements may increase insulin sensitivity by about 18–20%, facts about diabetes reveal. 

(U.S. Pharmacist)

Also referred to as ALA, this antioxidant aids in the conversion of food into energy. Although not commonly used for A1C or blood glucose control, it has shown positive results in increased insulin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes who take medications with hypoglycemia. However, this supplement is usually taken for improving associated symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.

34. 10% of diabetic covid-19 patients die within seven days of hospitalization.

(diaTribe)

Regarding diabetes and COVID-19, statistics reveal that diabetic patients are among the high-risk section of the public likely to die from the virus. Reports show that 1 in 5 diabetes patients having COVID-19 are intubated and mechanically ventilated within seven days. 

The presence of other conditions that come with diabetes, such as heart or kidney disease and age, makes it even more likely for diabetes patients with COVID-19 to die from the virus. Men are also more likely to be affected as they account for two-thirds of COVID-19 patients having diabetes. All these don’t come as a surprise, as health experts have long predicted higher diabetes mortality rates from COVID-19.

35. The WHO diabetes facts sheet reveals that 2.6% of all global blindness may be attributed to diabetes. 

(World Health Organization)

Among the consequences of diabetes, diabetic retinopathy affects the eyes by causing damage to the retina’s blood vessels, resulting in loss of eyesight. 

Other common consequences of diabetes include increased risk of stroke or heart attack, nerve damage to the feet that could potentially lead to amputations, and kidney failure.

36. 1 in 3 American adults has prediabetes.

(Center for Disease Control)

Some interesting facts about diabetes reveal that prediabetes is a health condition that brings you very close to type-2 diabetes. It occurs when the sugar level in blood is abnormally high but not high enough to make you a type-2 diabetic patient. 

As many as 88 million American adults are at this stage now. As if that isn’t bad enough, 84% of prediabetes victims aren’t aware of it. Also, prediabetes is a prelude to other conditions aside from type-2 diabetes, such as heart disease and stroke.

According to credible diabetes facts, having prediabetes doesn’t necessarily put you on a steep slope to type-2 diabetes. You can still prevent or significantly delay type-2 diabetes by adapting to a lifestyle that reduces your risk. Due to the rate of diabetes in America, the CDC has a fully developed program to help people manage or prevent it.

37. 22–67% of diabetes patients use dietary supplements, as per statistics on diabetes.

(U.S. Pharmacist)

There are many beneficial reasons for both healthy individuals and those with diabetes to turn to supplements. Studies have found that A1C is lower in those with diabetes when they take supplements. 

Furthermore, a diabetes outpatient clinic revealed that more than half of their patients take dietary supplements. It was found that it was twice as common for type 2 diabetes patients to take supplements than type 1 diabetes patients.

38. Officially, there are four types of diabetes.

(American Diabetes Association) (SingleCare)

Type 2 diabetes: For most people, the first thing that comes to mind following the mentioning of diabetes is type 2 diabetes. That’s because it is the most prevalent type of diabetes, accounting for 90-95% of all cases.

Gestational diabetes: This type of diabetes occurs only in pregnant women, including those who did not have diabetes before pregnancy. The cause of gestational diabetes is still unknown, but insulin issues arise here, just like in other types of diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes: Facts about diabetes reveal that the type 1 form prevents the body from producing insulin. The body needs energy, and it derives this energy from the glucose in our bloodstream with the aid of insulin.

Diabetes from other causes: This is the rarest form of diabetes and can result from a handful of factors such as drugs, chemicals, and other factors.

39. Diabetes facts reveal that a 58% reduction in diabetes incidences is possible through lifestyle intervention. 

(Research Gate)

A clinical study from 2008 done to determine whether lifestyle intervention may reduce diabetes incidence revealed that those with recommendations such as a healthy diet and weight loss reduced diabetes incidence compared with the placebo group. 

The weight loss group is predominant in these results. The test group that lost weight saw a 16% risk reduction per every kilogram they lost.

40. Various forms of treatments abound for the different types of diabetes.

(Healthline) (Mayo Clinic)

Type 1 diabetes: This type of diabetes can be treated by providing insulin to the body via injection or through an insulin pump – a device that is worn and programmed to release insulin in specific doses automatically. Glucose monitors also exist to monitor blood sugar levels 24/7.

Type 2 diabetes: According to the diabetes facts sheet, the primary therapy for this type of diabetes involves diet, exercise, and blood sugar control medications. Metformin is the most common medication to help the body use insulin better. Doctors can also employ other methods to combat type 2 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes: Treatment involves lifestyle changes, monitoring blood sugar, and using medicine or injection for insulin where necessary. About 10 – 20% of women need insulin treatment. However, there are still unclear answers to the question, how common is gestational diabetes worldwide?

41. Diabetes statistics show that 4 in 5 parents have difficulty recognizing diabetes warning signs in their children.

(International Diabetes Federation)

The research revealed that one in three parents would not spot the warning signs at all. This shows the importance of further awareness and education about the dangers and warning signs of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. 

Warning signs to keep an eye out for are: numbness in feet and or hands, slow healing wounds, lack of energy, blurred vision, frequent urination, and frequent thirst.

FAQs

What causes diabetes?

There are two types of diabetes. The cause of diabetes type 1 is not well known, while type 2 is caused by a combination of factors associated with the individual’s lifestyle. 

  • Type 1 diabetes: For unknown reasons, the pancreas cells are destroyed by the immune system, and the body is left without having enough insulin to function correctly. As the body attacks itself, this is known as an autoimmune reaction.
  • Type 2 diabetes: Family history is the main factor that causes type 2 diabetes, but obesity, bad diet, aging, and a sedentary life contribute to the risk.

What is pre-diabetes?

Pre-diabetes is one of the diabetes types that is reversible if proper actions, such as a healthy diet, exercise, and weight regulation, are taken. If you are diagnosed with pre-diabetes, it means that your blood glucose levels are above what they should be but not high enough to be interpreted as diabetes. 

What is type 1 diabetes?

The difference between type 1 vs. type 2 diabetes is that people with type 1 diabetes don’t produce insulin or produce very little of it. It’s still unknown precisely what the cause for type 1 diabetes is, but it usually affects patients at an early age, and the symptoms come on faster. The only way to manage type 1 diabetes is by regularly taking insulin to control blood sugar levels. There is no way to prevent or cure yourself of type 1 diabetes. 

What is type 2 diabetes?

Unlike type 1, type 2 diabetes can be prevented and even put into remission once it has set on. If diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, it means that your body cannot make enough insulin, or the insulin does not work correctly. There are risk factors that could lead to type 2 diabetes, such as being overweight, having a stationary lifestyle, and even ethnicity. Diabetes 2 symptoms come on much slower, making them easier to miss, but they are manageable through diet, exercise, and medication.

How many carbs per meal for diabetes type 2?

A healthy diet is key to controlling type 2 diabetes. It’s recommended that those with type 2 diabetes maintain a diet of no more than 45–65 grams of carbohydrates each meal. 

How to prevent diabetes? 

There is no way to prevent type 1 diabetes. Still, with a healthy diet, proper weight maintenance, and regular exercise, you can increase your chances of not getting type 2 diabetes even if you are in a risk group.

The Bottom Line

The numbers of type 2 diabetes are increasing dramatically worldwide, revealing that our lifestyles, urbanization, and unhealthy diets contribute to the drastic increase in diabetes statistics. 

As we embrace the commodities of living in the digitalized era, our own human biology must endure the burden of nutritional and functional disbalance. It’s time to accept these facts and start spreading the word around on how to choose a life without diabetes.

Sources:

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Boriana’s power comes from her constant desire for more information and an insatiable need to research. A dedicated mother and unstoppable workaholic, she is always finding ways to balance it all—physically, emotionally, and financially. When not juggling work and being a mom she dedicates her time toward helping animals and sharing her years of experience and knowledge with others.

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