One fifth of all adults with diabetes live in South East Asia

Marketwire (BELGIUM) :There are 70 million diabetes patients in South East Asia and the number is expected to increase to 121 million by 2030, according to new estimates from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), today to mark World Diabetes Day (WDD). One in four of all diabetes deaths, occur in South East Asia and it is estimated that by the end of 2012, 1.1 million people died from the disease.

 After India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka having the highest cases of diabetes, whilst Mauritius has the highest prevalence at 14.8%.

IDF estimates that India alone has 63 million people living with diabetes and is only second to China in terms of global diabetes cases.

 “We must do all we can to protect our region from this devastating epidemic” said Chair-Elect of IDF’s South-East Asia region, Veenoo Basant Rai “India is obviously a large concern but we still need to keep an eye on the smaller countries such as Mauritius.”

The figures from South East Asia, which form part of IDF’s Diabetes Atlas 2012 Update, echo the shocking increase in diabetes on a global level. The number of people globally living with diabetes in 2012 has risen to 371 million, compared to 366 million in 2011.

“In every country and in every community worldwide, we are losing the battle against this cruel and deadly disease” said President of the IDF, Jean Claude Mbanya. “On WDD, we want to raise awareness that with the right education and care this disease can be controlled and in some cases prevented.”

 “Millions of people are dying from diabetes in their most productive years” added CEO of IDF, Ann Keeling. “The stability of societies is threatened and huge economic and political burdens are imposed on countries and communities. However, this disease remains marginalised on the global health and development agenda and vastly under-resourced.”

 It is hoped that campaigns such as today’s WDD will continue to raise the voice of people with diabetes and to encourage all stakeholders to move from advocacy to action on a regional and global scale.

WDD is celebrated every year on 14 November. The campaign is led by the IDF and its member associations. It engages millions of people worldwide in diabetes advocacy and awareness. WDD was created in 1991 by the IDF and the World Health Organization in response to growing concerns about the escalating health threat that diabetes now poses.

WDD became an official United Nations Day in 2007 with the passage of United Nation Resolution 61/225. The campaign draws attention to issues of paramount importance to the diabetes world and keeps diabetes firmly in the public spotlight. This year sees the third of a five-year campaign that will address the growing need for diabetes education and prevention programs. www.worlddiabetesday.org

The IDF is an umbrella organisation of over 200 national diabetes associations in over 160 countries. It represents the interests of the growing number of people with diabetes and those at risk. The Federation has been leading the global diabetes community since 1950. International Diabetes Federation’s mission is to promote diabetes care, prevention and a cure worldwide. www.idf.org