In an article published November 13, 2013, the news agency Reuters reports on the latest estimates of diabetes prevalence published by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). In its 6th report, the federation estimates the prevalence rate to be 8.4 % of the adult population, reaching 382 million in 2013. In 2012, 381 million cases were reported by the federation, which estimates prevalence to rise to 592 million cases in 2035 (11 % of the world population). “Year after year, the figures seem to be getting worse” states David Whiting, epidemiologist and health specialist at IDF, in the article. The wide majority of diabetes cases are Type II diabetes, which is linked to obesity and lack of exercise. Apart from lifestyle and genetic factors, also chemical exposures have been associated with diabetes. As such, certain food contact substances such as bisphenol A (BPA), which have been found to affect the glucose metabolism, are considered a risk factor for Type II diabetes (Alonso-Magdalena et al. 2010; Nadal et al. 2009). Annual healthcare spending on diabetes is estimated to amount to  $548 billion USD.

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Ben Hirschler (November 13, 2013). “Diabetes battle ‘being lost’ as cases hit record 382 million.Reuters.

Reference

International Diabetes Federation (November 2013). “6th IDF Diabetes Atlas.

Alonso-Magdalena, P. et al (2010). “Bisphenol A Exposure during Pregnancy Disrupts Glucose Homeostasis in Mothers and Adult Male Offspring.” Environmental Health Perspectives 118, 9, 1243-50.

Nadal, A. et al. (2009). “The pancreatic β-cell as a target of estrogens and xenoestrogens: Implications for blood glucose homeostasis and diabetes.” Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 309, 63-68.

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