Date: 11/13/2010
TUMSPR News: The latest statement of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the World Diabetes Day on 14th of November 2010, both raises awareness about the disease and cautions about the developmental impacts of such chronic diseases.
World Diabetes Day, held on 14 November, comes at a critical moment in the global fight against this deadly disease and a host of other chronic illnesses that are causing both untold, needless suffering and holding back the development of many of the world's poorest countries, according to Dr Ala Alwan, WHO's Assistant Director-General for Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health.
Hundreds of millions of people worldwide have diabetes, with most living in low- and middle-income countries and middle-aged (45-64 years). In 2005, an estimated 1.1 million people died from the disease, more than half being women. Diabetes deaths are likely to double in the next 10 years without urgent action.
The drag on socioeconomic development in low- and middle-income countries from both the health impacts of diabetes and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDS), matched with often catastrophic expenditures the world's poorest must spend to protect their health, are telling examples why the we all must do more to prevent and control such illnesses.
The United Nations General Assembly has called the first-ever heads of state and government summit on the prevention and control of diabetes and other NCDs, particularly cancer, heart disease and stroke, and chronic lung diseases.
Measures grand and small can be taken to fight the global NCD crisis, which claims the lives of more than 35 million people annually, including 9 million that occur before the age of 60 years and could have been largely prevented or delayed with measures that we have at our disposal today. It is increasingly clear that diabetes and other NCDs now account for a large enough share of premature death and poverty to make us all not just take notice, but act in a coordinated manner.
We are seeing strong support for 2008-2013 Action Plan for the Global strategy for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases. But what is needed to ensure the success of such plans and many other initiatives is intensified action in countries and communities where NCDs pose a deadly risk and measures can be taken to avert or reduce such threats.
WHO works closely with the International Diabetes Federation and other partners involved in diabetes prevention and control worldwide.
Low-cost steps can be taken by all people on a daily basis to prevent diabetes or delay its onset. Such measures include education, enjoying a healthy diet, undertaking regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco and the harmful use of alcohol.
http://publicrelations.tums.ac.ir/english/news/detail.asp?newsID=20215
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