8 March 2019 There are estimated to be 387 million people with diabetes around the world, and this figure is expected to rise to 592 million by 2035. Even so, these figures will probably be out of date soon. Watch the video and find out why diabetes is considered the 21st-century epidemic. What is diabetes? Impaired sugar metabolism is the factor shared by the different clinical conditions we call diabetes mellitus. There is more than one disease called diabetes. We can classify diabetes into: Type 1 - when the patient is insulin dependent; Type 2 - when the patient is not insulin dependent, although people with type 2 diabetes may take insulin for better control. Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy. There are cases of diabetes resulting from other diseases or from medications. This is called secondary diabetes. There are rare cases of genetic diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic disease and most of the time it is silent. No two diabetic patients are the same. Diabetes depends on individual and behavioural factors , such as: Diet; Physical exercise; Schedules. The complications the disease can cause in the body’s organs are the greatest concern and can reduce life expectancy and quality of life. Managing diabetes and its complications involves: Personalised clinical monitoring; A multidisciplinary approach. Why is diabetes considered the 21st-century epidemic? Most cases of the disease are likely to be type 2 diabetes. The number of cases in Portugal has doubled in the last 20 years. The National Diabetes Observatory concluded that 13.3% of the population aged between 20 and 79 had diabetes in 2015. The percentage for people aged over 60 was 27%. More men than women have diabetes. The percentage in Portugal is 15.9% Around 40% of people with diabetes do not know they have the disease . This means complications occur with no appropriate treatment. What are the main reasons for this catastrophe? They are sedentary lifestyle , lack of physical exercise and excessive calorie intake. In the obese , the percentage of people with diabetes is four times higher than in people whose weight is normal. This article was written with the support of physicians and other clinical professionals from the Hospital da Luz network. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
