The rise in diabetes around the globe is one of the greatest health catastrophes the world has seen, with more than 382 million people now affected by the condition, according to a report.

The condition, which causes heart disease, stroke, blindness and death, has imposed an immense burden on health systems and national economies, and currently absorbs about 11 per cent of global health spending, it said.

According to the International Diabetes Foundation, the countries with the highest growth in diabetes prevalence will be the UAE, Oman and Qatar between 2013 and 2035.

The rates in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region as a whole will increase 96.2 per cent by 2035, it said.

The World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), a global initiative of Qatar Foundation for education, science and community development (QF), has partnered with the Parliamentarians for Diabetes Global Network (PDGN), a major advocacy programme of the IDF, to present its diabetes report to Parliamentarians in Australia and elevate the diabetes debate on the national policy agenda.

WISH inspires and diffuses healthcare innovation and best practice, remaining closely aligned to the vision and mission of Qatar Foundation to unlock human potential and serve to underscore Qatar’s pioneering role as an emerging centre for healthcare innovation.

The report, ‘Rising To The Challenge: Preventing and Managing Type 2 Diabetes’, revealed that Type 2 Diabetes is set to affect an estimated 10 per cent of the world’s adult population (nearly 600 million people) by 2035 and calls on policymakers around the world to act to prevent the alarming rise in prevalence rates.

The report was distributed to all members of parliament in Australia to further raise the profile of the condition and inspire stakeholders to action.

Ken Wyatt AM MP, chair of the Parliamentary Diabetes Support Group, said: “Diabetes is fast becoming a worldwide epidemic and it is our role to raise awareness about the seriousness of the issue, promote prevention and early detection, and advocate for ways to improve care, support and management of diabetes.

“The WISH report puts a spotlight on this devastating illness and we are delighted to be working closely with WISH to help stem the tide of diabetes in Australia and beyond.”

The report was published by the WISH Diabetes Research Forum, chaired by Stephen Colagiuri, professor of Metabolic Health and director of Boden Institute at the University of Sydney, at the second WISH summit, which took place in February in Qatar.

The summit brought together more than 1200 healthcare leaders and policymakers from 90 countries.

Professor The Lord Darzi of Denham, executive chair of WISH and director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College of London, said: “Combatting rising rates of diabetes should be a worldwide priority. Often, the impact of diabetes, alongside other chronic conditions, is underestimated. We must act now to prevent the disease before it becomes unmanageable for future generations.

“I am delighted that Parliamentarians in Australia will be reviewing our report to consider its policy recommendations, which we hope will enhance the debate and inform action on the diabetes pandemic for the benefit of populations everywhere.” - TradeArabia News Service