World Diabetes Day: Diabetes Kills 5.1M People Every Year

One person dies from diabetes every six seconds, according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF).

The organization reported diabetes affects 382 million people around the world and seeks help from celebrities and other influential personalities to raise awareness of this growing health problem.

The Brussels-based group recently released new figures and noted diabetes cases rose 4.4 percent over the past two years. The number of cases is more than 5 percent of the global population. The federation said the number of afflicted people may climb 55 percent at 592 million by 2035.

A more sedentary lifestyle and poor diet often lead to obesity and diabetes as health complications. According to the federation, these factors can trigger the diabetes epidemic. The report said in 2009, the number of diabetes cases was 285 million.

According to Leonor Guariguata, IDF's project coordinator for Diabetes Atlas and an epidemiologist, said experts have not seen any kind of reversal in the number of cases. Dr. Guariguata said diabetes continues to be a huge problem.

The IDF said more help is needed as it estimated that 5.1 million die every year because of diabetes. An average of 10 million cases is also observed annually. Majority of the cases involved people aged between 40 and 59.

Diabetes Prevention Among Children

New Zealand cafes are encouraged to offer smaller portions or cut down the fat to help reduce diabetes. According to University of Otago researchers, seven percent of adults in New Zealand have a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

A new research from the Edgar National Centre for Diabetes and Obesity Research has discovered that people with prediabetes symptoms will be less likely to develop the disease if their diet will improve.

The World Diabetes Day is observed every Nov. 14 and researchers believed that following a healthier diet can improve blood sugar levels. Kiwi researchers also urged restaurants and cafes in the country to offer patrons with smaller servings.

Researcher Kirsten Coppell said smaller meals and observing a strict diet can significantly reduce the amount of unhealthy ingredients in the diet. Dr. Coppell said the university center suggests customizing a person's diet according to his socioeconomic and cultural circumstances.

According to experts, diabetes is a complication of obesity. It is not only adults that suffer from obesity but children are also susceptible to have it.