In the second half of the 20th century, it became apparent that the prevalence of diabetes had become particularly critical and posed a direct threat to global health.
The increase in the number of people suffering from Type 2 diabetes mellitus is observed throughout the world, both in advanced economies and developing countries. The International Diabetes Federation predicts that the number of patients with T2DM will double in the next few years. By 2030 there will be more than 600 million patients diagnosed with diabetes all over the world, making the disease the seventh-most common cause of death among the population.
People of the working age are most affected by the disease. This poses a direct threat to the general welfare of societies. According to the WDF, diabetes prevalence will reach its peak in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It is expected that by the end of the 21st-century the number of people with T2DM will increase by 2.5 times in these regions.
The disease poses the same threat to the countries of Europe and the USA. The growing prevalence of obesity among locals is considered to be responsible for up to 70-90% of T2DM in the adult population.
It is essential to react to the diabetes threat swiftly. The pandemic affects not only global health but also the overall welfare of societies. A prosperous future and better living conditions rely upon a healthy and hard-working population.