Alarming study reveals the unsweetened truth about diabetes

A deeply unnerving study indicates that the number of deaths from diabetes will double by 2030. According to the World Health Organization, a staggering 4.6 million people will die from diabetes this year alone. To make a catastrophic situation even worse, the number of deaths will mushroom to twice the current figure by 2030.

Currently 285 million people live with diabetes, but this will shoot up to 438 million in just two decades. Interpreting the statistics, this means 7.8% of the world’s adult population (or 2 in every 25 people) will be afflicted by diabetes – which has proved stubborn over the years despite the best efforts of pharmaceutical research.

But the full story of this condition runs much deeper, according to Dr. Khalid Alghofaili renowned diabetes expert who oversees diabetes patients at Saudi German Hospital-Dubai. “The biggest reason why more people are dying is that most of them don’t even know they have diabetes until it’s too late. That’s why it can be such a lifesaver to come for a diagnostic check-up, so that we can stop the complications in their tracks.”

In high-income places, Type 2 diabetes is the culprit in up to 95% of all cases. However, Dr. Khalid Alghofaili, a specialist at Saudi German Hospital who has 7 years of experience in helping diabetes patients, turned the focus from the negative to the positive: “It is not all doom and gloom, because the good news is that 80% of Type 2 diabetes cases can be prevented. We need to put greater effort in enhancing our diet, exercising and ensuring a healthy living environment.”

When prodded for the symptoms of diabetes, Dr. Khalid Alghofaili explained that some early warning signs are excessive thirst, coupled with an abnormally high frequency of urination; persistent fatigue and weight fluctuations. Other red flag signs include blurry vision, sores that take abnormally long to heal, tingling sensation in the hands and feet, as well as swollen gums.

The age group hit hardest by diabetes is the 40-59 brackets upwards. However, He warned: “It would be a catastrophic mistake to assume that only the elderly should worry about diabetes, because the seeds of diabetes are planted in our earlier years – only to manifest much later. Therefore I would strongly recommend shying away from high calorie and high carbohydrate diets. We should also exercise because if we don’t, it could catch up with us later.”

Although the combination of insulin and a glucose meter with a balanced diet has successfully managed the condition and given patients their lives back, it is not only diabetes itself that is deadly – but also its related complications like kidney damage, heart disease and stroke Many patients have tragically lost a limb to diabetes. For all these reasons and more, experts strongly urge precautionary check-ups to detect diabetes early.