Could Diabetes Bankrupt National Health Services Across the World?
At this moment in time there are in excess of 300 million people suffering from diabetes around the world with a further 50 million suffering from the condition in ignorance.
These figures have more than doubled over the last 30 years and indeed in countries such as the US the figure has actually trebled over this period.
So, could diabetes potentially bankrupt national health services across the globe? The knock-on effect of diabetes The fact is that there are now treatments available to allow diabetics to control their condition and live a generally "normal" life.
However, there is still some dispute and some mystery regarding what causes diabetes, the best way to combat diabetes and what kind of diet you should follow.
Until we see a uniform approach to combating and treating diabetes there will be mystery, there will be intrigue and unfortunately not all diabetics will follow the safest and the healthiest path in the future.
Those who are not able to control their diabetes as well as they possibly could will require regular treatment by national health services around the world and this figure will continue to grow.
The true cost of diabetes In many ways we tend to look at the cost of diabetes in terms of healthcare across the world when in reality there is an impact upon the worldwide economy, family life, society and also dietary habits.
The cost of diabetes should not always be measured in pounds and dollars because there are some ways in which the impact is immeasurable.
However, if we take a look at the area of healthcare there is potential for enormous funding problems in the future.
Last year there was a report circulating which suggested that the UK NHS could be bankrupt within 30 years if the ever growing increase in diabetics continued.
The suggestion was that the individual cost of treating diabetes would continue to grow with the double whammy that patients requiring treatment could potentially mushroom over the next 30 years.
The figures are very concerning and would indicate potential bankruptcy issues and funding shortfalls across-the-board.
Governments need to act now One issue which is brought up time and time again is the fact that governments around the world have invested nowhere near the amount of money required into diabetes research.
The fact is that every dollar invested today would be repaid multiple times in the future but it can be very difficult to persuade voters to invest billions upon billions of dollars of taxpayer's money at this moment in time, especially taking into account recent austerity measures.
The reality is that unless governments around the world invest more money in research and development, unless taxpayers take a long-term view then the cost of treating diabetics in the future will be worse than any of us could ever imagine.
Conclusion While the headlines regarding potential bankruptcy of institutions such as the UK NHS are taken with a pinch of salt by many people, the reality is that the ever-growing cost of treating diabetes could lead to major funding issues.
It is not just the treatment of diabetes which is the issue but also the treatment of heart attacks, strokes and an array of other health conditions very closely associated with diabetes.
There are many people in the UK today who will require NHS treatment in the future, there are many people around the world who require funding from their local governments but the sad fact is that if we let the issue role on as it is today, the number of diabetics will increase enormously.
This will put major pressure upon healthcare budgets and see other areas of public service starved of funding and starved of attention.
We are potentially on the edge of a major epidemic, we are potentially on the edge of great funding issues in the future and the sooner we wake up and smell the coffee, the better for all concerned.
These figures have more than doubled over the last 30 years and indeed in countries such as the US the figure has actually trebled over this period.
So, could diabetes potentially bankrupt national health services across the globe? The knock-on effect of diabetes The fact is that there are now treatments available to allow diabetics to control their condition and live a generally "normal" life.
However, there is still some dispute and some mystery regarding what causes diabetes, the best way to combat diabetes and what kind of diet you should follow.
Until we see a uniform approach to combating and treating diabetes there will be mystery, there will be intrigue and unfortunately not all diabetics will follow the safest and the healthiest path in the future.
Those who are not able to control their diabetes as well as they possibly could will require regular treatment by national health services around the world and this figure will continue to grow.
The true cost of diabetes In many ways we tend to look at the cost of diabetes in terms of healthcare across the world when in reality there is an impact upon the worldwide economy, family life, society and also dietary habits.
The cost of diabetes should not always be measured in pounds and dollars because there are some ways in which the impact is immeasurable.
However, if we take a look at the area of healthcare there is potential for enormous funding problems in the future.
Last year there was a report circulating which suggested that the UK NHS could be bankrupt within 30 years if the ever growing increase in diabetics continued.
The suggestion was that the individual cost of treating diabetes would continue to grow with the double whammy that patients requiring treatment could potentially mushroom over the next 30 years.
The figures are very concerning and would indicate potential bankruptcy issues and funding shortfalls across-the-board.
Governments need to act now One issue which is brought up time and time again is the fact that governments around the world have invested nowhere near the amount of money required into diabetes research.
The fact is that every dollar invested today would be repaid multiple times in the future but it can be very difficult to persuade voters to invest billions upon billions of dollars of taxpayer's money at this moment in time, especially taking into account recent austerity measures.
The reality is that unless governments around the world invest more money in research and development, unless taxpayers take a long-term view then the cost of treating diabetics in the future will be worse than any of us could ever imagine.
Conclusion While the headlines regarding potential bankruptcy of institutions such as the UK NHS are taken with a pinch of salt by many people, the reality is that the ever-growing cost of treating diabetes could lead to major funding issues.
It is not just the treatment of diabetes which is the issue but also the treatment of heart attacks, strokes and an array of other health conditions very closely associated with diabetes.
There are many people in the UK today who will require NHS treatment in the future, there are many people around the world who require funding from their local governments but the sad fact is that if we let the issue role on as it is today, the number of diabetics will increase enormously.
This will put major pressure upon healthcare budgets and see other areas of public service starved of funding and starved of attention.
We are potentially on the edge of a major epidemic, we are potentially on the edge of great funding issues in the future and the sooner we wake up and smell the coffee, the better for all concerned.
Source...