Cities at the Frontline in the Global Diabetes Epidemic

An alarming increase in the number of individuals suffering from diabetes worldwide finds its peak in big cities, according to statistics.

According to a new estimation published some time ago, more than 400 million people worldwide suffer from a type of diabetes, whether it be type 1 or 2. This same estimation projects that by 2045 (less than 30 years from now), there would be nearly 3 quarters of a billion people worldwide suffering from diabetes. The most worrying statistics are the ones linked to major cities where millions of urban citizens live, making the link between economic growth and increasing levels of diabetes an enigmatic subject of interest for researchers.

Among the recommendations experts have mentioned regarding this situation, promoting healthcare and changes in lifestyle are some of the aspects that political leaders and people with a mass approach should focus on in order to reduce the possibility of people having this condition in the first place. Taking into account how rapidly the world is urbanizing right now, the need to spread awareness of how important lifestyle changes are when looking to avoid diabetes becomes one of the main targets of any health community anywhere.

Initiatives such as Cities Changing Diabetes are programs looking to put a spotlight on diabetes and showing it as an epidemic that needs more awareness. It is worth mentioning that this program is the result of a global partnership of nine major cities with a population of over 75 million people and more than 100 experts in the topic of diabetes in fast-paced, urban areas.

Possible outcomes of not taking diabetes seriously

Unfortunately, diabetes is not taken as an important issue in this current society, and healthcare systems will soon face intimidating numbers of people who will not be able to be effectively treated in a sustainable way due to this. Numbers related to diabetes become even more important when taking into account of the medication supplies and hospital care, which would possibly exceed the $1 trillion dollars per year in less than 30 years from now.

But, this can be pushed back with a couple of strict policies and more promotion of the problems associated with the disease. One of the main problems related to this condition is obesity, which is one of the modifiable drivers of diabetes in the world. While there is a direct impact from obesity in the development of diabetes, there are many different actions that can help reduce obesity indexes in cities, limiting its participation in the development of the disease.

According to statistics, by reducing the percentage of obese people in most regions of the world, the increasing curve of diabetes would level off, with one of each eight adults that would suffer from obesity, not having any other problem related to the disease. Though, it has been demonstrated that in some regions such as Tianjin, greater action would be needed in order to trigger this decrease since there are plenty of genetic factors playing an essential role in the development of the disease.

This also makes people who are native in these regions more prone to develop it due to their genetic deposition.

The importance of social and cultural factors in the increasing risk of having diabetes

In big cities, cultural and social factors earn a lot of importance in anything related to the development of chronic diseases and how their lifestyle is plays a vital part in the triggering certain symptoms. For this reason, focusing on risk factors is important when looking to tackle diabetes. Among the most relevant aspects that affect people and their possibility of having diabetes, these are some of the most common:

• Long commutes
• Stress
• Food
• Migration dynamics

Food, lack of exercise and constantly feeling stress are some of the most important issues that people living in big cities have to deal with. Although it has been considered that people who are more at risk of suffering from diabetes are poor people due to the poor quality of their dietary habits, it not entirely true. It has been shown that people with higher levels of income have diets with a higher number of calories and fat, commonly saving time by eating fast food.

Right now, one of the leading proposals in the field of improving the awareness for diabetes is the one presented by Vancouver, which is looking to engage citizens in the effort to help identify significant vulnerabilities that would make inhabitants more prone to have this kind of complication.

Measures and actions that have proved to be effective so far

Regarding the actions and practices that have been proved to be effective, health-promoting policies are among the most effective measures taken by countries so far. Taking into account health inequalities are a problem present in all kinds of cities in the world, health policies and programs should look to reduce the social gap produced by different levels of income. For instance, Copenhagen has already created its diabetes plan of action aiming to tackle all kinds of inequalities existing between adults with different levels of income. In order to succeed with this task, they have opened their own Center for Diabetes with the expertise of many professionals in the field.

Including the community in all aspects related to health is also essential when looking to approach the best solutions for the specific needs of a place. Urban planning is also part of this solution, looking to create a city that promotes a healthy lifestyle. It has been proven that a lack of areas to exercise, like parks and squares, can help increase the rate of obesity since people can find it more difficult developing an exercise daily routine.

The future of urban areas and their target to reduce the possibility of having diabetes

Aggressive action is required when looking to reduce diabetes on a global scale. Reducing the number of people currently suffering from obesity can subsequently reduce 25% of diabetic cases projected for 2045. Taking into account the current population in the world, this would mean that around 110 million people would not suffer from diabetes.

By reducing the number of patients with diabetes, healthcare facilities will be able to deliver better service to those suffering from the condition, ensuring the best outcomes possible. Local commitment is essential when looking to battle diabetes as a condition that affects so many people in the world. Health policies, the role of communities and promoting health plans as well as awareness need to keep improving in order to reduce the level of diabetes.