One in three individuals born in the year 2000 may go on to develop diabetes.

A major public health concern is the soaring rate of diabetes among the US population. Diabetes has a severe impact on both quality of life and life expectancy because of the complications it brings in its wake, such as heart disease. Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, have used data from the National Health Interview Survey taken in 1984-2000 to estimate the lifetime risk of diabetes for those born in the year 2000.

According to the study, the lifetime risk of developing diabetes is 32.8 per cent for males and 38.5 per cent for females - with Hispanics having the greatest risk. A man who is diagnosed with diabetes at age 40 will lost 11.6 life years and 18.6 quality-adjusted life years, say the researchers. For women, the corresponding figures are 14.3 and 22.0 life years. The quality-adjusted life year is a measure of how much quality of life you lose due to a disease.

This study is a wake-up call. For diabetes is largely preventable with lifestyle measures, such as weight control and healthy eating. Medication can also play a part. It's time to adopt a strategy based on these measures if diabetes is not to exact a terrible toll from the new generation.

Source

Journal of the American Medical Association 8th October 2003