The total number of people across the world who suffer with type 1 and type 2 diabetes has risen to 366 million, according to new figures from the International Diabetes Federation.
The metabolic disease is responsible for an estimated 4.6 million deaths each year, or one death every seven seconds, while the global annual health cost of the diabetes epidemic now stands at a staggering $465 billion.
The new figures were announced this week at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Lisbon, Portugal, with the aim of jump-starting next week's United Nations meeting on ramping up efforts to tackle diabetes, cancer, heart disease and other non-communicable diseases.
Jean Claude Mbanya, president of the International Diabetes Federation, said: "In 2011, one person is dying from diabetes every seven seconds. The clock is ticking for the world's leaders."
"We expect action from their meeting next week … that will halt diabetes' relentlessly upward trajectory."
The federation, which represents associations from more than 160 countries, wants officials from across the globe to outline concrete measures to prevent the epidemic and has also called for more investment in research.
World Diabetes Population Hits 366 Million
Thu, 15 Sep 2011
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