Diabetes is a disease that occurs due to either of these conditions – inadequate production of insulin in the body or due to the body’s inability to use the insulin that it has produced. Insulin is responsible for the movement of sugar from the blood to the cells. Lack of adequate insulin causes a build-up of sugar in the blood in diabetes. Diabetes is also a very common disease globally. However, we are here to tell you the not-so-common facts about diabetes that you should definitely know.
Let’s get started with some noteworthy diabetes facts.
1. The number of diabetics have quadrupled since 1980 (unique diabetes fact)
Diabetes is rising in leaps and bounds across the world, especially amongst low- and middle-income countries. According to the World Health Organization, the number of people with diabetes worldwide has increased by four times since 1980 and has been growing ever since.
2. It has been declared as an epidemic by WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) also reports that diabetes has reached global epidemic status. It predicts that developing countries will witness a massive 80% spurt in the number of new cases of diabetes by 2025. Did you know this interesting fact about diabetes?
3. Causes one death every 10 seconds worldwide (important diabetes fact)
One diabetic patient dies every 10 seconds. It claims the lives of almost 3.5 million across the world. The expected death rate is likely to increase by 25% in the coming decade.
4. There are 3 types of diabetes (diabetes fact you should definitely know)
Diabetes or high blood sugar can be classified into three broad categories, each of which occur due to varied reasons and require a different mode of treatment. Here are some interesting diabetes facts about its types:
- Type 1 Diabetes: This is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the immune system of the body self-sabotages and destroys its own pancreatic cells that produce insulin. This adversely affects the production of insulin completely or partially. In such cases, insulin has to be administered everyday. Approximately 1 out of 20 people diagnosed with diabetes have type 1.
- Type 2 Diabetes: This type of the disease happens due to the body’s inability to manufacture insulin in sufficient quantities or its inability to use it effectively. Type 2 can often be treated with a healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced diet and regular workout to ensure loss of weight. Sometimes, the doctor may also recommend oral medications or insulin injections. 9 out of 10 to 19 out of 20 people with diabetes are recorded to have type 2.
- Gestational Diabetes: This type occurs during the gestation period of pregnancy, as the name suggests. Hence, it is typical to women only and can affect only those women who did not have diabetes before pregnancy. It subsides on its own after pregnancy. This occurs when the body is unable to utilise the insulin produced by it.
In case it does not subside post-pregnancy, there are high probabilities that it was not gestational diabetes. In most cases, it can be type 1 or type 2 diabetes that starts during the gestation period. This type of disease can usually be restricted by maintaining a healthy diet and a regular fitness routine to aid in weight loss. Medications may also be prescribed to keep the sugar level under check. Women with gestational diabetes are at a high risk of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in later phases of life.
5. There is a difference between diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus
Diabetes mellitus is an umbrella term for various types of medical conditions. It includes type 1, type 2, gestational, latent autoimmune diabetes of adulthood (LADA), and variations like maturity-onset diabetes in the young (MODY). All of these variations cause the body to control and regulate blood glucose levels.
On the other hand, diabetes insipidus, also called water diabetes, happens due to a kidney disorder. Here, the kidneys are unable to concentrate urine in sufficient quantities. This causes a deficiency in the antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which in turn, leads to this type of diabetes. This interesting fact about diabetes is not known to all.
6. Certain factors cause a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes (important diabetes fact)
The concerning risk factors are:
- Being overweight
- Genetic or family history of the disease
- Of the age 45 years and above
- Physically inactive for more than 3 days a week
- Women who have had gestational diabetes
- Women who had given birth to a baby of more than 9 pounds
7. It can cause kidney failure
Another research points out that it is the leading cause of kidney failures with 44% of new cases in 2005.
8. It raises the risk of gingivitis
Diabetics are more susceptible to gingivitis that might cause a loss of teeth and bone. Diabetes increases the chances of gingivitis getting aggravated.
9. It has increased the risk of serious health conditions of the eyesight
Another interesting fact about diabetes is that it has led to a growing rate of cataracts and a minimum 5% of incidents of blindness. Isn’t this one of the most unique diabetes facts so far?
10. It exposes people to a higher risk of pneumonia
Diabetics face a raised risk of advanced pneumonia and flu and will need hospitalisation six times more than people who are not diabetics. As per the Centers for Disease Control, flu and pneumonia causes the death of about 10,000 to 30,000 diabetics.
11. Increases the risk of amputations
High blood sugar levels have caused more than 1 million amputations every year.
12. Various health conditions may cause diabetes
One of the most significant diabetes facts you should know is that some medical conditions destroy the beta cells in the pancreas, leading to diabetes. These diseases include Cushing’s Syndrome, cystic fibrosis, haemochromatosis, and pancreatitis.
13. India leads the diabetes pandemic (important diabetes fact)
India has the world’s highest number of diabetics with a record of more than 35 million. It is expected to reach 70 million by 2025. This would mean that one in every 5 diabetics in the world could be an Indian.
14. The Middle East is not far behind
There are 5 more countries that need to tread with caution to control the epidemic. These countries are the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Nauru, Bahrain, and Kuwait.
15. Blood glucose levels can be controlled with oatmeal
One serving of cooked oatmeal two to four times every week has recorded a reduction of type 2 diabetes by 16% according to a Harvard study. What’s more, a serving of it 6 to 7 times a week is believed to reduce the risk of getting diabetes by a significant 39%.
Did you know all of these facts about diabetes? Feel free to share an interesting fact about diabetes that we may have missed.
Hello Health does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of any kind. For more health-related information, you can visit our website and if you have any more specific questions related to your condition, it’s best to check with a professional.
