Diabetes is an emerging global epidemic that can be traced back to rapid increases in overweight, obesity and physical inactivity. According to WHO, Type 2 diabetes is much more common than type 1 diabetes, and accounts for around 90% of all diabetes worldwide. Reports of type 2 diabetes in children – previously rare – have increased worldwide. In some countries, it accounts for almost half of newly diagnosed cases in children and adolescents. Here is a list of some other facts about diabetes which you may not know.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, diabetes comes at the sixth place in the list of death causes in the USA.

5 million People die in the world every year due to diabetes, i.e. one person every 10 seconds.

United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Nauru, Bahrain, and Kuwait are the countries with the highest percentage of people suffering from diabetes.

At present there are 35 million diabetic people in India. This number is expected to reach up to 70 million by 2025.

According to the World Health Organization, the disease rates have reached the level of epidemic.

44% of all kidney failure cases are caused by diabetes.

The money spent on diabetes in US is more than 200 billion dollars each year.

60-70% of diabetic patients have a certain form of neurological disorders.

Diabetes influences the menstrual and ovulation cycles, as well as impacts female sexual desire.

Eating cooked oatmeal at least two times a week decreases the risk of developing diabetes by 16%. More than five servings of cooked oatmeal per week give a 39% decrease of this risk.

Almost 90% of all diabetic patients are obese.

Animals like dogs, cats, ferrets, horses, foxes, ground squirrels, dolphins, and hippos can also suffer from diabetes.

More than one million amputations annually are caused by diabetes.

Spending two hours or more, in front of TV increases the risk of developing diabetes.

Diabetes takes five to ten years from normal life expectancy.

Diabetes may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Diabetes increases the risk of erectile dysfunction.

Adolescent girls with Type 1 diabetes mellitus are at higher risk of developing various eating disorders.

Breastfeeding a baby for three months and more decreases the risk of Type 1 diabetes in childhood and obesity in adulthood.

More than 12 million men and 11.5 million women in the USA have diabetes.

In 7% of pregnancies in USA, gestational diabetes is diagnosed.

Diabetes can increase the risk of gingivitis, which often leads to tooth loss.

Diabetes increases the risk of flu/pneumonia complications. Up to 30 thousand people with diabetes die from flu and pneumonia each year.

People with pear-shaped body face smaller risk of developing diabetes in comparison with those having an apple-shaped body.

Diabetes is the main cause of blindness in US residents aged between 20 and 74. 90% of these cases can be prevented by early diagnose and treatment.

Read more-Diabetes myths debunked!

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