This is Robert Cohen with the VOA Special English DevelopmentReport.
The World Health Organization says it expects two times as manycases of diabetes in developing countries within thirty years.Developing countries had one-hundred-fifteen million diabetics intwo-thousand, or two out of three cases worldwide. Intwo-thousand-thirty that share is expected to be three out of fourcases.
The W-H-O is working with theInternational Diabetes Federation to fight the increase. It saysmany cases could be prevented by better nutrition and more physicalactivity.
The W-H-O released its report for the yearly observance of WorldDiabetes Day on November fourteenth. That is the birthday ofCanadian scientist Frederick Banting. He and his assistant CharlesBest did research that led to the discovery of insulin innineteen-twenty-one.
People with diabetes have too much of a sugar called glucose intheir blood. Glucose levels rise when the body cannot produceinsulin, or cannot use this hormone correctly. The pancreas is theorgan that produces insulin. Insulin helps glucose enter cells touse as fuel.
There are two kinds of diabetes. Type One is usually found inchildren and young people. It results when the body’s own defensesystem destroys cells in the pancreas that produce insulin.
In Type Two diabetes, the pancreas produces insulin, but the bodyis not able to use it. This kind of diabetes usually appears inadults. But doctors also see it increasingly in overweight children.About ninety percent of all cases of diabetes worldwide are TypeTwo.
Experts warn about the economic costs of an increase in diabetes.The W-H-O estimates that countries now spend up to fifteen percentof their yearly health care budgets on this disease. Then there isalso the amount of money lost in worker productivity.
Diabetes is often linked to a high-fat diet and little exercise.But health officials say it no longer affects mostly rich nations.
People with diabetes can often control it through betternutrition, more physical exercise and the use of medicine.
The World Health Organization is developing what it calls aGlobal Strategy on Diet and Physical Activity. It says this planwill support its efforts to help countries prevent diabetes andother diseases related to unhealthy diets and lack of activity.
This VOA Special English Development Report was written by JillMoss. This is Robert Cohen.