"Diabesity": The 21st Century Epidemic

Abstract

"Diabesity": The 21^st Century Epidemic

Swangjit Sura-amornkul MD, FRCP(T), MSc (clinical investigation)

Endocrinology unit, Department of Medicine, BMA Medical College and Vajira Hospital.

Diabetes and obesity are twin interrelated epidemics which threaten to engulf the world's healthcare systems over the next two decades. The prevalences of both are increasing at an alarming rate with up to 400 million people likely to develop diabetes, largely type 2, in the next 15 to 20 years unless action is taken. Indeed, much of this increase in diabetes prevalence is directly attributable to the epidemic of obesity.

Both diabetes and obesity are associated with significant mortality and morbidity from macrovascular disease such as heart attack, stroke and peripheral vascular disease. In addition, diabetes carries the extra burden from the specific microvascular complications of retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy. The costs of these conditions, both personal and economic, are enormous.

Vajira Med J 2008 ; 52 : 77 - 82