The World Health Day 2016 focuses on the fight against diabetes, a chronic disease that affects 62 million people in the Americas, representing one in 12 people.
Most cases of diabetes, however, is linked to behavioral factors and life style, and it is therefore preventable. Diabetes is a serious chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body does not effectively use the insulin it produces.
There are three main types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes, which is more common among children and adolescents; Type 2 diabetes, which is more common in adults and is linked to obesity or overweight, lack of exercise and poor nutrition; and gestational diabetes which is a complication of pregnancy that affects approximately 10% of pregnant women globally. Type 2 diabetes accounts for approximately 90-95% of cases, this disease can be prevented by reducing the major risk factors: (a) overweight and obesity, which contributes to 44% of cases; (B) physical inactivity, which contributes 27% of cases; and other risk factors such as smoking, alcohol abuse, family history and unknown factors (33%).
See more:
- Video message of the Director of PAHO / WHO, Dr. Carissa Etienne
- Page PAHO / WHO on World Health Day 2016
- WHO website on World Health Day (English)
- Infographic about diabetes (in Spanish)
- Prevalence of diabetes in the Americas (in Spanish)
- Publications about diabetes: reports, strategies and guidelines (in Spanish)
Related Links:
