The number of patients with diabetes, the most common chronic disease, is increasing continuously. Caution is needed as the illness is directly related to one’s lifestyle. (Image : Pixabay)
SEOUL, Nov.15 (Korea Bizwire) – The number of patients with diabetes, the most common chronic disease, is increasing continuously. Caution is needed as the illness is directly related to one’s lifestyle.
According to data analyzed by the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, the number of patients treated for diabetes increased 19 percent from 2,170,000 in 2010 to 2,580,000 last year, for an average annual increase of 4.4 percent.
The total medical costs to treat diabetes over the same period increased an average of 6.1 percent per year, from 579.7 billion won to 735.2 billion won.
Diabetes is caused when blood sugar rises irregularly, resulting in glucose being discharged through urine. It is caused when insulin is not secreted properly (type 1 diabetes) or when insulin does not function properly (type 2 diabetes).
Last year, the largest group of diabetes patients was those over 70 years of age, at 29.8 percent. Those in their 60s ranked second (26.7 percent), followed by those in their 50s (26.5 percent) and 40s (12.4 percent), showing that most of the diabetes patients were older than middle age.
The number of patients with diabetes over the age of 40 increased 20.1 percent over the past four years. The majority had type 2 diabetes, in which their insulin doesn’t function well.
The number of patients with type 2 diabetes was 2,240,000 last year, which was a 20.1 percent increase compared to the 1,860,000 in 2010. This is in contrast with the fact that the number of patients with type 1 diabetes and diabetes related to malnutrition actually decreased.
Officials have explained that type 2 diabetes is not only caused by genetic factors, but also because of lifestyle choices such as the westernization of diets, and a lack of exercise.
If diabetes lasts for a long time, complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis, diabetic renal diseases and coronary diseases are bound to occur.
It has been proven effective to lead a healthy lifestyle such as enhancing one’s diet and getting exercise in order to prevent and treat diabetes.
Officials advise that even though there aren’t many symptoms of diabetes, one should regularly check their blood sugar levels. This would make it easier to spot the illness at an early stage, making it easier to manage blood sugar levels and prevent complications. Those older in age or those who are obese should be more cautious as they have a higher chance of getting diabetes.
By M.H.Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
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Very helpful article, just the right info that I was searching for, thanks the author.
Diabetes mellitus is a lifelong disease, but also a treatable and manageable disease, in most cases, diabetes can be successfully controlled by following a proper diet and increasing daily physical activities, for more severe cases, Diabetes is often treated with a combination of insulin, meds, exercise, and a special diabetic diet.