Diabetes can reach 'pandemic' level in Asia

According to world health experts, Asians are six times more likely to develop diabetes than whites. In the coming decades, the disease can reach a 'pandemic' level not only in Asian countries but also in overseas Asian communities.

As they get richer, Asians are giving up traditional foods to find fatty foods. Instead of rice and vegetables are hamburgers, cheese and fried chicken. And in addition to being lazy (due to work being too busy), the main cost is diabetes - the No. 1 risk for Asian health.

Mushroom fast food stores in Asian countries are part of the cause of increased risk of diabetes (Photo: Reuters).

A recent study by Warwick Hospital (UK) shows that one in four Asians over 40 in the UK have diabetes.

World Health Organization forecasts, by 2025, the number of diabetics in the Western Pacific region, stretching from Mongolia and Japan to New Zealand, will reach 100 million - far beyond current 67 million. The two countries with the fastest increase in diabetes will be China and India.

Currently, there are about 246 million diabetics worldwide, and this number will reach 380 million by 2025. Each year, this incurable disease kills 3 million people. Experts warn now that diabetes does not only attack older people but also younger people.

HIEU TRUNG