In Asia, diabetes more likely to strike the young.

In Asia, diabetes more likely to strike the young

Times of India Bangalore, May 28, 2009

Jakarta: Diabetes is spiralling in Asia but __ unlike the west __ those affected are relatively young and less likely to be struggling with obesity, a new study shows.
    

Research published in the Journal of American Medical Association(JAMA) on Wednesday said the disease has turned into a global problem, with the number of victims expected to grow from 240 million in 2007 to 380 million in 2025. More than 60 per cent of those will be in Asia, the world’s fastest growing region, with low and middle-income countries hardest hit.

    India will see its numbers grow from 40 million to nearly 70 million; China 39 million to 59 million; and Bangladesh 3.8 million to 7.4 million, the authors wrote, citing figures from the International Diabetes Federation. Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and others will also see their figures skyrocket.
   

Frank Hu, a professor at the Harvard School of Public Health, noted the disease is associated with serious complications such as heart disease, stroke and renal failures__all of which are expensive to treat.

    Trends of diabetes in the region are influenced by everything from genetic makeup and cultural differences to smoking and degrees of urbanization, the JAMA study showed. But the most startling findings __ which tended to vary from country to country __ related to body mass and age. AGENCIES