A top OECD official has warned that on current trends, the number of people suffering from diabetes across OECD countries will rise to almost 100 million by 2030 from 83 million.
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) comprises 34 member-countries.
Speaking at the European Diabetes Leadership Forum in Copenhagen on Tuesday, OECD Deputy Director General Yves Leterme said, "Preventing and treating diabetes and its complications costs about EUR90 billion annually in Europe alone. With health budgets already under great pressure and national budgets severely strained, for the sake of our health and the health of our economies we must find ways to prevent and manage diabetes in a cost-effective manner."
Like other chronic diseases, diabetes reduces employment opportunities and earnings. In addition, diabetics are prone to depression, making it difficult to follow treatment guidelines.
In the coming 10 years, more than two out of three people will be overweight or obese in some OECD countries. This has an impact on both their salaries and their health - across OECD countries, obese people earn up to 18% less than non-obese people. And they are 8 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. This jumps to 60 times more likely for the severely obese.
As with many diseases, prevention strategies to tackle obesity - promoting healthy nutrition and exercise - are more cost-effective than the treatment routinely provided by health services. Governments must work with the food and beverage industry, medical practices, schools and community groups to promote healthy life-styles, Leterme suggested. Denmark, Finland, France, Hungary have already passed legislation taxing foods rich in fat and sugar.
Austria and Hungary admit double the OECD average of diabetics to hospital. In Finland, Sweden and Denmark, men are more likely to be admitted than women.
The European Diabetes Leadership Forum gathers 800 participants from governments, the private sector, and consumer organizations across Europe to discuss workable solutions to address care for non communicable diseases such as diabetes. Participants are agreeing to the Copenhagen Roadmap, an outcome document offering concrete suggestions for good practice in the management of chronic diseases.
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