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All over the world, type 2 diabetes continues to cause disability and premature deaths. It does not look like it will get better in the future. To understand how diabetes will impact our future global health, a new study assessed data from 204 countries across 25 age groups. They reported a startling finding.
The researchers predicted that type 2 diabetes cases will rise from 529 million in 2021, to 1.31 billion in 2050.
How could this happen?
A major concern is limited access to healthy food options among low to middle-income populations. Ultra-processed foods and high-calorie products are more available and consumed by these populations. Physical inactivity is another primary cause of type 2 diabetes. A main cause of inactivity is the increased number of sedentary jobs.
According to the CDC, diabetes is the most expensive health burden in the United States.
The total cost of diabetes is an estimated $330 billion.
The lack of consistent public health strategy means that our healthcare system will see a larger and larger burden from type 2 diabetes. This is surprising for a preventable health condition. It leads us to ask a simple question.
Is there anything we can do to reverse type 2 diabetes?
- Access the Reversing Type II Diabetes Summit
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Another study, published on June 15, 2023, discovered a way to reverse type 2 diabetes. In that study, 59 participants with an average age of 71.5 years received standard medical treatment and followed a specific diet.
This diet was high-fiber, low-fat, plant-predominant. And it cured nearly 40% of the participants.
That set of participants saw full remission of their diabetes and no longer needed to take medication for it. Further, body mass index and fasting blood glucose levels were both seen to decrease significantly. This indicates that for the participants that did not have full remission, their diabetes was much more manageable.
So, even though the number of people with diabetes is predicted to increase by 60% by 2050, there is hope.
It is essential that we first try to prevent type 2 diabetes from occurring through healthy lifestyle practices. It is important to:
– Eat a diet high in vegetables and lean protein but low in processed, saturated fats, and sugary foods
– Meet the recommended goal of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity
– Regularly visit your primary care physician to ensure your health
Even if we are unable to prevent the significant increase in people with diabetes, there is hope. That recent study shows that type 2 diabetes is reversible with lifestyle modification and good medical care.
Learn More Information Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
It might be hard to know what steps to take when it comes to preventing or reversing type 2 diabetes. DrTalks.com is hosting a summit with more than 40 medical and nutritional experts to provide you with the essential information. You can learn more by visiting https://drtalks.com/reversing-type-2-diabetes-summit/.
About the Author
Dive into the world of chronic diseases with writings by Daniel Chantigian, MS. Discover groundbreaking research and enlightening disease summaries through his and other works on our blog: https://drtalks.com/blog/.
References:
– GBD 2021 Diabetes Collaborators (2023). Global, regional, and national burden of diabetes from 1990 to 2021, with projections of prevalence to 2050: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet (London, England), S0140-6736(23)01301-6. Read it here.
– Center for Disease Control. “Cost-Effectiveness of Diabetes Interventions | Power of Prevention.” www.cdc.gov, 29 Sept. 2020. Read it here.
– Panigrahi G, Goodwin SM, Staffier KL, Karlsen M. Remission of Type 2 Diabetes After Treatment With a High-Fiber, Low-Fat, Plant-Predominant Diet Intervention: A Case Series. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. 2023;0(0). Read it here.
I’m pre-diabetic with a family history of Type II Diabetes, and I can see how this is quickly becoming a pandemic of sorts. The staggering projection of diabetes cases globally is alarming, especially considering the preventable nature of the disease. The limited access to healthy food and increased sedentary lifestyles are huge contributors. It’s a wake-up call to prioritize our health and lifestyle choices. The success of the high-fiber, low-fat diet in reversing diabetes in some cases is inspiring. It shows there’s hope and effectiveness in lifestyle changes. This information is a crucial reminder for me to stay proactive about my health. I’m trying out the Nutrisense continuous glucose monitor. It’s only been a few days but it’s really helped me monitor and reduce my white flower, processed foods and sugar intake. I’m tracking weight loss right away.