Longer Lives, More Diabetes
Source: American Diabetes Association
Publication date: 2003-08-18
Diabetes on the Increase but Death Rate Falling
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A steady increase in the number of diabetics in Denmark does not seem to be cause by a rise in new cases, but rather from a drop in the death rate, according to a report published in this weeks' issue of The Lancet.
During the past 20 years, there has been a well-documented rise in the rate of diabetes worldwide. If current trends persist, the World Health Organization predicts that in the next 20 years the total number of diabetics will double from 150 to 300 million.
In an effort to better understand the rise in diabetes cases, Dr. Henrik Stovring, from the University of Southern Denmark, and colleagues analyzed data for all 470,000 people living in the county of Fyn, Denmark between 1993 and 1999.
Although the number of men and women with diabetes increased during the study period, there was no accompanying rise in new cases of diabetes, the authors note. Instead, there was a steady drop in deaths among treated patients.
Although a firm conclusion as to why the number of people with diabetes is rising can't be reached based on the study data, "we believe that the decrease in mortality should be taken into account," the researchers state. "Otherwise, incorrect conclusions could be drawn about the relation between the western lifestyle and the rising number of diabetics," they add.
In a related editorial, Dr. Edwin A. M. Gale, from Southmead Hospital in Bristol, UK, notes that this study is a reminder that the reason for the rising number of people with type 2 diabetes is "complex and deserves a more detailed examination."
While a drop in the death rate may explain the increased number of cases in one region, "it may not be the reason for similar trends elsewhere, he adds.
SOURCE: The Lancet, August 15, 2003.