RIYADH: A statistical report stated that diabetes in the Gulf has reached record numbers, with rates reaching between 12 to 24 percent, and increasing as people get older.
Rates are 8 percent in people under 35 years old, while those over 65 years old form 50.4 percent, and the percentages are expected to increase by the year 2030 to reach 24 to 50 percent.
The report pointed out that diabetes among Bahrainis is around 40 percent in people over 40 years; in Oman rates increase to reach 12 percent in adults; Kuwait has 22.4 percent; the United Arab Emirates has 19.6 percent.
This year, Global Health Day (April 7) is allocated to educate people about diabetes, said Mishari bin Hamad Al-Dakhil, general supervisor of the public directorate for nutrition in the Ministry of Health.
Diabetes is spreading in an epidemic manner which makes it a risk at the national level. The importance of this concerns the increased rates of chronic complications due to diabetes, which increases the total costs of treating it.
Reports from the World Health Organization state that diabetes will be the seventh cause of death by the year 2030. Rates of getting the disease increase in developing countries.
Treatment costs for the disease reached $500 million during 2011, and are expected to increase to $750 million by the year 2030.
Dakhil said these statistics and indicators reflect economic and health hazards and exposes people to more risk of death in addition to the complications resulting from this disease.
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