As per IDF 2021 estimates, 11 million adults in Japan have diabetes. The high prevalence of diabetes is associated with a significant economic burden and can be attributed to lifestyle changes and increased longevity.
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major public health concern in Japan. According to a national survey, about 12% of the Japanese population had diabetes in 2016 [1]. The number of diabetics has been on the rise since the first survey was conducted in 1997.
Diabetes rates vary greatly around the world. Pakistan has the highest diabetes rate at 30.8%, followed by Kuwait at 24.9%, and Nauru, New Caledonia, and the Northern Mariana Islands, all at 23.4%. On the other hand, countries with the lowest diabetes rates include Eritrea, Somalia, and Guinea-Bissau, all below 1%.
Japan has around 11 million people with diabetes, according to IDF 2021. Aging and obesity contribute to the increase in diabetes prevalence. Of this, the rapidly aging population is a significant concern, which makes disease management a challenge.
Meanwhile, African nations like Benin and The Gambia recorded the lowest prevalence of diabetes in the world. In 2021, African countries had a combined total of 23.6 million adults with diabetes, less than 2% of the continent's population.
China is the country with the highest number of diabetics worldwide, with around 141 million people suffering from the disease. By the year 2045, it is predicted that China will have around 174 million people with diabetes.
It is also reported that health expenditure of patients with complications was 3.36 times higher than those without complications in China [15, 16]. Urbanization, diet and decreasing levels of physical activity, with a consequent epidemic of obesity have contributed to the rapid increase of diabetes in China [17, 18].
How common is diabetes? In 2020, an estimated 1 in 20 (almost 1.3 million) Australians were living with diabetes (prevalence) and were registered with the National Diabetes Services Scheme - external site opens in new window (NDSS) and Australasian Paediatric Endocrine Group (APEG) state-based registers.
But as a person of Asian descent, you may have less muscle and more fat than other groups and can develop diabetes at a younger age and lower body weight. That extra body fat tends to be in your belly (visceral fat).
Research has shown that Asian subjects exhibit higher glucose excursion during an oral glucose challenge, suggesting lower beta-cell function to overcome insulin resistance than non-Asians. These biological differences put Asian people at higher risk of developing diabetes.
India is often referred to as the 'Diabetes Capital of the World', as it accounts for 17%percent of the total number of diabetes patients in the world. There are currently close to 80 million people with diabetes in India and this number is expected to increase to 135 million by 2045.
If you have a mother, father, sister, or brother with diabetes, you are more likely to get diabetes yourself. You are also more likely to have prediabetes. Talk to your doctor about your family health history of diabetes.
In Japan, aging and obesity contribute to the increase in diabetes prevalence. Of this, the rapidly aging population is a major concern, which makes disease management a challenge.
Many Japanese menus feature Bento box meals. These are single-portioned meals that consist of rice, meat or fish, and pickled or cooked vegetables served in a sectioned box-like plate. This is a great option for people with diabetes who do not want to over-eat, but still want to enjoy a variety of foods.
Rice as their number one source of carbohydrate
While Japanese people eat rice daily. It is an essential food for most of their meals. Plus, it is cooked without butter or salt, so Japanese people are able to keep their slim figures.
If diabetes continues to rise at the current rates, up to 3 million Australians over the age of 25 years will have diabetes by the year 2025. For type 2, this is likely driven by rising obesity, the ageing population, dietary changes, and sedentary lifestyles.
The genetic make-up that enabled Indigenous people to survive when food was scarce may now be a big disadvantage, promoting weight increases, diabetes, and associated conditions such as high blood pressure and heart disease.
Excess rice consumption leads to postprandial glucose spikes which overtime, can lead to diabetes. However, a subgroup analysis by region showed that the association was most pronounced in South Asia (HR =1.61, p=0.02) followed by the rest of the world (HR=1.41, p=0.01).
The number of people living with diabetes in Australia increased by almost 2.8-fold between 2000 and 2020, from 460,000 to 1.3 million.
The number of people living with type 2 diabetes in Australia increased almost 3-fold between 2000 and 2020, from 399,400 to 1,164,900. After adjusting for age, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes increased from 2.1% in 2000 to 4.0% in 2014.
Diabetes is increasing
Diabetes is the fastest growing chronic condition in Australia; increasing at a faster rate than other chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer. All types of diabetes are increasing in prevalence: Type 1 diabetes accounts for 10% of all diabetes and is increasing.
Singapore's ageing population
At a population level, the rapidly ageing population and low mortality rates will increase the proportion of people living with diabetes.
Vitamin D deficiency is common in Egypt due to a lack of sun exposure, and it has been linked to obesity and diabetes [7-10]. Egypt has the world's highest incidence of chronic hepatitis C infection.
“When ordering Chinese, focus on dishes packed full of lean proteins and vegetables with limited rice and noodles,” advises Palinski-Wade, who suggests ordering steamed chicken and broccoli with the sauce on the side.