Ahead of the 2016 World Health Day on April 7, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says the number of people living with diabetes had almost quadrupled since 1980 to 422 million adults and called for actions to curb the rise.
A statement issued by the world health body said that this number was mostly with people living in developing countries.
According to reports the World Health Day is marked on April 7 annually.
It is a day which celebrates the organisation’s founding in 1948 and the theme for 2016 is on a call for action on diabetes.
According to the release, some of the factors driving this dramatic rise include overweight and obesity.
In its first “Global report on diabetes”, WHO highlighted the need to step up prevention and treatment of the disease.
The WHO describes diabetes as a chronic, progressive non-communicable disease (NCD) characterised by elevated levels of blood glucose (blood sugar).
It occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough of the insulin hormone, which regulates blood sugar, or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.
WHO advised that health-promoting environments would help reduce risk factors.
“Measures needed include expanding health-promoting environments to reduce diabetes risk factors, like physical inactivity and unhealthy diets.
“Others are strengthening national capacities to help people with diabetes receive the treatment and care they need to manage their conditions,’’ the report said.
Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General, said: “If we are to make any headway in halting the rise in diabetes, we need to rethink our daily lives.
“We have to eat healthily, be physically active and avoid excessive weight gain.
“Even in the poorest settings, governments must ensure that people are able to make these healthy choices and that health systems are able to diagnose and treat people with diabetes,’’ Chan is quoted as saying.
