Type 2 diabetes is
often seen as a condition affecting older, unproductive adults in
wealthy countries. However, the reality is that 70% of people with
diabetes now live in low and middle-income countries and the economic
impact of diabetes is much greater in poorer countries. Yet the
majority of the spending, 90% of all medical expenditures for
diabetes care, is made in the United States, Canada, the countries of
Western Europe, and other wealthy countries. This is the conclusion
of the most comprehensive investigation of the economic impact of
diabetes ever to be conducted in low and-middle-income countries.
The new data from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) comes
from researchers in five African countries who interviewed 2,300 men
and women with type 2 diabetes and an additional 2,300 of their
neighbours who did not have diabetes. The studies reveal that people
with diabetes have roughly 3 times the rates of heart disease,
stroke, kidney disease and heart failure than their otherwise similar
neighbours. People with diabetes also have; more tuberculosis,
HIV/AIDS and malaria. All these diseases lead to very high
out-of-pocket medical expenses and lost income due to complications
such as blindness, paralysis, amputation, pain, cognitive deficits,
and other disabling problems. One out of 6 of the people interviewed
said that they could not work at all because of their health; 1 out
of 3 said they could not work as much they wanted, and 3% said that
they had to work more than they wanted to cover their medical
expenses. 1 out of 5 reported that they were not able to buy much
needed food because of medical expenses, and more than half said they
could not buy all the medicines they needed.
Perhaps the most surprising findings were that 15% of the family
members had quit work to care for a family member with diabetes, 20%
had to cut back on work and 15% had to work more to contribute to the
cost of medicines and care for a family member with diabetes. The
result of this, according to Jonathan Betz Brown, PhD, Chair of the
IDF Task Force on Health Economics and of the Kaiser Permanente
Center for Health Research, the global study leader, is that
"children are kept out of school and deprived of food, families lose
farms and businesses, and women and girls are forced to stay home to
care for parents. In the end, these family tragedies add up to a less
educated and smaller workforce, greater social disorganization, and
slower economic growth."
"You might think that the best way to help children in Africa would
be to ignore chronic illnesses like diabetes," said the African study
leader and IDF Vice President, Dr. Kaushik Ramaiya, of Shree Hindu
Mandal Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, "but, in developing
countries, children's' lives and prospects depend on the survival and
strength of their parents and grandparents. When a father is fired
because of a stroke, or a mother cannot raise crops and animals, or
cook, because of blindness or an amputation, the entire family can
find themselves homeless and pulled into dire poverty."
Findings from the African study show that people with diabetes on the
continent have many more medical problems than people of comparable
age and sex; are much less able to function physically and work; are
more frequent and more intensive users of medical care and drain
precious economic resources from their family and society.
The lead investigators in each study were recruited locally and all
enjoy international reputations for their research. IDF President
Professor Jean Claude Mbanya led the study in Cameroon, Dr. Eva
Njenga in Kenya, Mr. Stephane Besançon in Mali, Dr. Paul Rheeder in
South Africa, and Dr. Kaushik Ramaiya in Tanzania. Other studies are
underway in 17 cities in China, in Kazakhstan and in three countries
in Central America.
These are preliminary results and the data continue to be analysed.
Final results will be published at a later time.
Note to Editors:
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is an umbrella
organization of over 200 member associations in more than 160
countries, representing over 285 million people with diabetes, their
families, and their healthcare providers. The mission of IDF is to
promote diabetes care, prevention and a cure worldwide. Its main
activities include education for people with diabetes and healthcare
professionals, public awareness campaigns and the promotion and
exchange of information. IDF is a non-governmental organization in
official relations with WHO and associated to the United Nations'
Department of Public Information. IDF organizes the World Diabetes
Congress every two years. For more information, please visit
www.idf.org
Contacts: International Diabetes Federation
Kerrita McClaughlyn
Media Relations Manager
Mobile: +32 487-530-625
or IDF Press Room (Montreal):
+1 514-789-3407 and +1 514-789-3409
media@idf.org