Diabetes in the past, present and the future
In 1923, Frederick Grant Banting
and John James Richard Macleod were awarded the Nobel Prize
(Nobelprize.org) for the discovery of insulin. Banting shared his prize
with his assistant and medical student, Charles Best. Macleod shared
his prize with biochemist, Dr. J. Collip. In his Nobel Lecture, Banting
concluded the following about their discovery: "Insulin is not a cure
for diabetes; it is a treatment. It enables the diabetic to burn
sufficient carbohydrates, so that proteins and fats may be added to the
diet in sufficient quantities to provide energy for the economic
burdens of life."
Throughout the 20th century,
treatment and understanding of the disease has advanced significantly.
Although prevention and management remains difficult, the life of an
average diabetic is becoming both longer and easier all the time.
On December 20, 2006, the United
Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 61/225. This landmark Resolution
recognized diabetes as a chronic, debilitating
and costly disease associated with major complications that pose severe
risks for families, countries and the entire world. It designated
November14, the current World
Diabetes Day, as a United Nations Day to be
observed every year beginning in 2007.
In 2007, according to the
International Diabetes Federation (IDF), there are an estimated 46
million diabetics worldwide. This figure is expected to increase by 7
million new cases annually. IDF estimates that 85-95% of all diabetes
cases are Type-2 diabetes, a life style related disease.
The detection, management and long-term prevention of
Type-2 diabetes, like any other chronic disease, has important
socio-economic implications. In the USA and in Europe it has been
reported that diabetics today account for approximately ten percent of
the total health care expenditure. And the numbers keep increasing.
In the future diabetes is
estimated to account for more then 15% of a nation's total health care
expenditure. This is directly related to the increasing number of obese
people in the world. Diabetes Type-2 is directly related to obesity.
Today, a new generation is entering adulthood with unprecedented levels
of obesity. This, in addition to the existing burden of adult obesity,
reinforces the concern that weight-related chronic diseases in general will be the most significant public health
concern throughout the 21st century.
More facts about
diabetes can be red in IDF's Diabetes Atlas: Download
the Executive Summary of the Diabetes Atlas, second edition in English
