Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic, and largely preventable, disease that can lead to cardiovascular disease, blindness, kidney failure, loss of limbs and loss of life
There are about 60 million people with diabetes in the European Region, or about 10.3% of men and 9.6% of women aged 25 years and over.
Prevalence of diabetes is increasing among all ages in the European Region, mostly due to increases in overweight and obesity, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity.
Worldwide, high blood glucose kills about 3.4 million people annually. Almost 80% of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, and almost half are people aged under 70 years. WHO projects diabetes deaths will double between 2005 and 2030.
WHO/Europe seeks to improve control and reduce the complications of diabetes, while also working to reduce the risk factors that contribute to development of this and other priority noncommunicable diseases. As success in these efforts depends on equitable access to quality treatment and opportunities to lead a healthy life in the European Region, WHO/Europe also works with Member States to strengthen their health systems and tackle the wider determinants of health.
