Diabetes exceeds expected level worldwide

World Diabetes Day (WDD) is celebrated every year on November 14. It's a campaign engaging millions of people worldwide in diabetes advocacy and awareness.

The campaign slogan for 2010 is 'Let's take control of diabetes. Now!'

In view of the sharp increase of diabetes patients over the recent years, the 21st century came to be known as the age of diabetes.

Their number in Armenia is 42 thousand, with 325 being children and teenagers.

The majority of patients suffer from type 2 diabetes.

In 2010, the incidence of diseases has grown 8 times compared to last year. But not all the patients are registered, according to chief endocrinologist of Yerevan Elsa Hayrapetyan.

"There are approximately 8-10 non-detected cases for each detected case of the disease. That's a very serious rate for a country with a population of 3 million," she told journalists on Saturday.

The increasing rate of diabetes exceeds specialists' 2005 estimates.

Wrong lifestyle is deemed to be the main cause of the disease.

"The number of cars in Yerevan has sharply increased recently, which means people no longer walk or move," the chief endocrinologist said, referring to other serious risk factors, such as wrong food and genetic predisposition.

To prevent diabetes people have to walk much and go in for swimming and dancing, which can reduce stress, protecting the organism from diseases, the specialist stressed.

Doctors remind all diabetes patients that diabetes is a lifestyle rather than a disease, recommending them to strictly follow the diet prescribed to them.

The main signs of diabetes are general weakness, frequent urination, a feeling of thirst and undue loss of weight.

Although diabetes patients in Armenia should get medicines free of charge, there is a lack of medications.

Expressing her concerns in this regard, chief endocrinologist said that only 19 % of patients in the country received free anti-diabetes drugs.

"But the number of those receiving free insulin has increased. In 2009, free insulin was provided to 93% of patients. This is a very high rate compared to the neighboring countries," Ms Hayrapetyan noted.

The World Diabetes Day logo is the blue circle which was adopted in 2007 to symbolize life and health.

In 2010, Armenia was elected as International Diabetes Federation member. The National Anti-Diabetes Project has been submitted to the government for approval.

According to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, there are around 250 diabetes patients worldwide.