Millions Left Behind As Diabetes Drives Surge In Insulin Demand
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published November 21, 2018 | 04:15 PM
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Nov, 2018 ) :A global diabetes epidemic is fueling record demand for insulin but tens of millions will not get the injections they need unless there is a dramatic improvement in access and affordability, a new study concluded on Wednesday.
Diabetes -- which can lead to blindness, kidney failure, heart problems, neuropathic pain and amputations -- now affects 9 percent of all adults worldwide, up from 5 percent in 1980. The vast majority have type 2 diabetes, the kind linked to obesity and lack of exercise, and cases are spreading particularly rapidly in the developing world as people adopt more Western, urban lifestyles, Voice of America reported.
Researchers said the amount of insulin needed to effectively treat type 2 diabetes would rise by more than 20 percent over the next 12 years, but insulin would be beyond the reach of half the 79 million type 2 diabetics predicted to need it in 2030. The shortfall is most acute in Africa, where the team led by Dr Sanjay Basu from Stanford University estimated supply would have to rise sevenfold to treat at-risk patients who had reached the stage of requiring insulin to control their blood sugar.
"These estimates suggest that current levels of insulin access are highly inadequate compared to projected need, particularly in Africa and Asia," Basu said.
"Despite the U.N.'s commitment to treat non-communicable diseases and ensure universal access to drugs for diabetes, across much of the world insulin is scarce and unnecessarily difficult for patients to access." Global insulin supply is dominated by three companies � Novo Nordisk, Sanofi and Eli Lilly-- which have various programs to try to improve access to their products.
Insulin, however, remains costly and prices can be especially out of reach in poorer countries where tortuous supply chains and high mark-ups by middlemen often make it unaffordable for many patients.
Overall, Basu and colleagues calculated that global insulin use was set to rise to 634 million 1,000-unit vials by 2030 from 526 million in 2018.
Their study, published in the Lancet Diabetes; Endocrinology journal and funded by the Helmsley Charitable Trust, was based on projections of diabetes prevalence from the International Diabetes Federation.
Dr Hertzel Gerstein from Canada's McMaster University wrote in an accompanying commentary that it was important to estimate and ensure insulin supplies, but added the forecasts should be treated cautiously as they were based on mathematical models.
Recent Stories
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 25 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 25 April 2024
Mired in crisis, Boeing reports another loss
Session Awarding Ceremony 2024 held at Cadet College Muzaffarabad
Austrian ski great Hirscher to make comeback under Dutch flag
Pakistan, Japan agrees to convene 'Economic Policy Dialogue'
FM Dar conveys deepest sympathy on torrential rains devastation in UAE
Spain PM Sanchez says weighing resignation after wife's graft probe
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results - 1st update
Long-lost Klimt portrait auctioned off for 30 mn euros
Osaka seals first win on clay since 2022 in Madrid
Earthquake jolts Karachi
More Stories From Pakistan
-
PP-269 bye-election: Nomination papers submission process concludes
15 minutes ago -
15 female teachers injured in road accident
2 hours ago -
Pakistan, UK discuss collaboration in education sector
10 hours ago -
PMD forecast rain-windstorm/thunderstorm for various parts of country
11 hours ago -
Session Awarding Ceremony 2024 held at Cadet College Muzaffarabad
11 hours ago -
FM Dar conveys deepest sympathy on torrential rains devastation in UAE
12 hours ago
-
Earthquake jolts Karachi
12 hours ago -
Sindh minister orders operation after attack on police in Ghotki
12 hours ago -
Police book youngster for abusing student for one year
12 hours ago -
Police arrest 23 suspects, recover stolen money, phones
12 hours ago -
Colorful cultural festival concludes at NUML
12 hours ago -
Immunization awareness week kicks off in Balochistan
12 hours ago