World Health Day 2016: WHO calls for global action to beat diabetes

The number of people living with diabetes has almost quadrupled since 1980 to 422 million adults, with most living in developing countries. Factors driving this dramatic rise include overweight and obesity, WHO announced ahead of World Health Day.

WHO is marking its annual World Health Day which celebrates the Organization’s founding in 1948, by issuing a call for action on diabetes. In its first “Global report on diabetes”, WHO highlights the need to step up prevention and treatment of the disease.

Diabetes, as cancer, is a non-communicable disease that has a great human and economic impact, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, most of which can be prevented through healthy lifestyle and early detection for example.

Read the official WHO press release on World Health Day by clicking here.