Diabetes Statistics « The ABC of Weight Loss

Diabetes Statistics

More often than not, we don’t think about our pancreas, do we?

Most of us don’t even know what or where this particular organ is. We may have heard of diabetes (actually, who hasn’t?), but the severity of this problem just doesn’t seem to spark anything more than a blip on our health radars. We might think of diabetes as something only certain people get; those who have family members that already have diabetes or we think that diabetes is rare.

But the truth is that diabetes is not rare. And it’s becoming more prevalent around the world. With the rise in obesity figures, diabetes isn’t just becoming a force to deal with in the adult world; it’s also becoming a problem for children. Not knowing about diabetes, the risk factors, and the treatment options is something no one can afford to do any longer.

The truth is that diabetes is something that can strike anyone, anywhere, at any time. You could be the next statistic, but that’s why you’re learning about how to protect yourself now. In order to function normally, your body needs glucose, or a certain kind of sugar. This sugar ‘feeds’ the cells of the body enabling certain body systems to function normally and to carry out the tasks required to breathe, digest, etc. Glucose is derived from foods containing carbohydrates – potatoes, corn, breads, fruits, dairy, pastas and rice. In order to access this glucose, the body needs to break the carbohydrates up during digestion, which it can do when you have diabetes. However, in order for the glucose to be used by the cells, your body needs to use insulin. Insulin is produced by the pancreas, which is located right below the stomach in the body.

With insulin, the body can release the glucose from the blood stream and into the cells – also known as the process of glucose metabolism.

When you have diabetes, you may not make insulin or you might not make enough to help the body enable the body to transport the glucose to the cells, resulting in high blood sugar levels. These blood sugar levels can continue to rise, leading to health problems and, in some cases, even death.

Statistics
Needless to say, the numbers for those with diabetes in Australia aren’t very good. 1.7% of deaths in Australia in 2002 were listed as having the cause of death as diabetes alone.
• In Australia in 2002, 50% of deaths from diabetes were also found to
have had heart disease as an associated cause of death.
• 22% of deaths in Australia from diabetes also had stroke as an
associated cause of death.
• 15% of deaths from diabetes also had renal failure as an associated
cause of death in Australia.
• Type II Diabetes takes up 85-90% of all diabetes cases in Australia in
a study by AIHW in 2003.
• Type I Diabetes numbers 10-15% of all diabetes cases in Australia
according to a 2003 study by AIHW.
• Type II diabetes accounted for up to 60% of all new cases of diabetes
in Australia from 1999 to 2002 according to a 2004 study.
• Gestational diabetes accounted for 9% of new cases of diabetes in
Australia from 1999 to 2002, according to studies done by AIHW in
2003.
And while those numbers may have been recorded a few years ago, current trends are indicating that the numbers may be even higher now. The problem, it seems, is that the more countries and areas develop, the easer it is to have the high risk situations that seem to be causing diabetes and related disorders. But that doesn’t mean that it’s hopeless – not by a long shot.