FAQ, Healthcare

Diabetes Statistics – Reliable Numbers

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is an umbrella organization of over 200 national diabetes associations in over 160 countries. Besides promoting diabetes care and prevention, the IDF tracks statistics on diabetes and diabetics on a worldwide basis.

The Federation publishes the Diabetes Atlas, a collection of statistics and comments on diabetes which is issued from time-to-time. The Atlas is based on data supplied by its members. As these are national associations, the facts and figures published by the IDF are considered quite reliable.

According to the 6th edition of the IDF Diabetes Atlas, which was published in 2013, the total population of the world is 7.2 billion. This is expected to have risen to 8.7 billion by 2035, ie in 22 years time.

This total population includes 4.6 billion adults and these has been projected to reach 5.9 billion by 2035. The IDF defines an adult as a person aged 20-79 years, the most likely age range for the development of type 2 diabetes.

According to the Diabetes Atlas, 382 million people around the world or 8.3% of all 4.6 million adults (20-79 years) are estimated to be suffering from diabetes. Almost half of all adults with diabetes are aged 40-59 years, the age range during which people are at their most productive phase in life.

The number of people with type 2 diabetes is increasing in every country. If current trends continue, the IDF expects that there will be more than 592 million diabetics by 2035, a rise of 55%, when one adult in ten will be diabetic.

Undiagnosed diabetes

Type 2 diabetes may be undiagnosed for several reasons. There are few symptoms in the early years of the disease. In addition, the complications vary so widely that, even when symptoms do exist, diabetes may not be recognised as the cause.

The IDF figure for 382 million diabetics in 2013 includes 175 million who are undiagnosed. I must admit I was astounded when I first read that 46% of diabetics are undiagnosed. How can you count something if you don’t know it exists?

Estimating the number of undiagnosed diabetics, I discovered, is relatively easy. All the IDF had to do was to arrange tests for a sample of people living in a particular area. The tests, which are carried out by the IDF’s national associates, identify both known and unknown cases of diabetes, and it is a simple mathematical exercise to extrapolate to the population as a whole with a high degree of accuracy.

Many (but not all) persons who know they have the disease will be making some attempts to beat their diabetes. The problem with undiagnosed diabetes is that these diabetics will not be managing their blood glucose levels and may be developing complications, such as kidney disease, heart failure, retinopathy and neuropathy, unbeknownst to themselves.

Regional differences

The Diabetes Atlas provides statistics for 219 countries which the IDF have grouped into seven regions: Africa, Europe, the Middle East & North Africa, North America & the Caribbean, South & Central America, South-east Asia, and the Western Pacific.

The IDF estimates that 80% of diabetics live in low- and middle-income countries where the disease is increasing very fast and posing a threat to development. The prevalence of diabetes, however, varies widely from region to region and country to country. It also varies widely within regions… to an extent that suggests that the grouping of countries into regions by the IDF needs revising.

While about 8% of adults (aged 20-79) in the Western Pacific have diabetes, in certain countries in that region the proportion of adult diabetics is much higher. In Tokelau, for example, 37.5% of adults are diabetic. The figure for the Federated States of Micronesia is 35%.

In the Middle East and North Africa, nearly 11% of adults have diabetes. However this is an average for the entire region and the figures for the Arabian Gulf states are much higher, more than double the average, with 24% of adults in Saudi Arabia, 23.1% in Kuwait and 22.9% in Qatar being diabetic.

Undiagnosed diabetes also varies from region to region. In some countries in sub-Saharan Africa up to 90% of diabetics are undiagnosed, mainly due to a lack of resources and priorities. By contrast, in high-income countries about one-third of the people with diabetes have not been diagnosed.

In most countries diabetes is increasing in tandem with rapid economic development, which is leading to changes in diets, ageing populations, increasing urbanisation, reduced physical activity and unhealthy behaviour. Many governments, however, seem to be unaware of the growing crisis and the likelihood of serious consequences that could stifle their countries’ development.

Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)

The IDF estimates that about 316 million people or 6.9% of adults (20-79) have impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). By 2035 this number is expected to have risen to 471 million (8.0% of the world’s adult population).

This is serious, as people with IGT or pre-diabetes have a greatly increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. IGT is also linked with the development of cardiovascular disease.

The majority of adults with IGT (about 3.5% of the world’s total adult population) are under the age of 50 and are thus at a high risk of becoming type 2 diabetics later in life. Even more worry-some is the fact that nearly 1/3 of all those who have IGT are aged 20 to 39 years. Unless they overhaul their life-styles these people are virtually guaranteed to become diabetic later in life.

Adding the number of diabetics worldwide (382 million) to the number of people with IGT (316 million) gives a total of 698 million. In other words, nearly 10% of the total population of the world or over 15% of all adults (20-79) have either diabetes or pre-diabetes.

By comparison, only 33.4 million people on this planet are living with HIV/AIDS… about 1/20th of all diabetics and pre-diabetics. It’s glaringly obvious that diabetes and pre-diabetes represent a massive crisis that is threatening to overwhelm global health systems.

Deaths

Received opinion is that the medical complications caused by diabetes, such as heart failure and kidney disease, are major causes of death in most countries.

However, it is very difficult to accurately estimate the number of deaths because (a) more than a third of countries do not maintain data on death due to diabetes and (b) routine health statistics under-record these deaths, because the death certificates on which these statistics are based often omit diabetes as a cause of death.

To overcome these problems, the IDF uses a modelling approach to estimate the number of deaths attributable to diabetes, and appears to have come up with some reasonable estimates.

Diabetes is expected to be the cause of about 5.1 million deaths in adults aged between 20 and 79 in 2013 and nearly half (48%) of these will be people under the age of 60. Diabetes ranks as a leading cause of premature death.

These deaths represent about 8.4% of all deaths of adults (20-79). Deaths due to diabetes are increasing. The estimated overall number of deaths in 2013 represents an 11% increase over the estimates for 2011. Death from diabetes is on a rising trend.

Health costs

There is no cure for diabetes. For this reason, diabetics have to look after their health assiduously. Where they are unable to control their diabetes through diet and exercise, they have to resort to regular medication. This can be expensive both for health systems and for diabetics and their families.

The IDF has estimated global health spending on diabetes to be at least USD 548 billion dollars in 2013… 11% of the total spent on adult health. This is expected to exceed USD 627 billion by 2035.

Where diabetes is undiagnosed, the benefits of early diagnosis and treatment are lost. Thus, the costs relating to undiagnosed diabetes must be considerable. One study found that undiagnosed diabetes in the USA was responsible for an additional USD 18 billion in healthcare costs in one year.

There are large disparities in spending between regions and countries. Only 20% of global health expenditure on diabetes was made in the low- and middle-income countries where 80% of diabetics live. On average, the estimate spend in 2013 is USD 5,621 per diabetic in high-income countries but only USD 356 in low- and middle-income countries.

However, when individual countries are compared, the disparities are extremely stark. Norway spends an average of USD 10,368 on diabetes healthcare per diabetic, while countries such as Somalia and Eritrea spend less than USD 30.

The costs associated with diabetes, however, are much wider that just the costs of providing the appropriate health services. The overall costs include losses in productivity, social costs such as disability payments, and losses of income. Without a doubt, diabetes imposes a heavy economic burden on countries, families and individuals.

To find out more, visit IDF Diabetes Atlas where you can download the book free of charge.

If you explore the site, you’ll also find plenty more statistics if you click on Diabetes: Facts & Figures.

Summary

Total world population in 2013 (2035): 7.2 billion (8.7 billion)

Adult (20-79 years) population 2013 (2035): 4.6 billion (5.9 billion)

———-

Number of diabetics in 2013 (2035): 382 million (592 million)

Adult (20-79) diabetics in 2013 (2035): 8.3% (10.1%)

Number of pre-diabetics (IGT) in 2013 (2035): 316 million (471 million)

Adult (20-79) pre-diabetics (IGT) in 2013 (2035): 6.9% (8.0%)

Undiagnosed diabetics in 2013: 175 million (46% of all diabetics)

———-

80% of diabetics live in low- and middle-income countries

Number of deaths of adults (20-79) in 2013: 5.1 million

———-

Health expenditure for diabetes in 2013 (2035): US$ 548 billion (US$627 billion)

Only 20% of total health expenditure spent in low- and middle-income countries

Total healthcare spend per diabetic in Norway: US$ 10,368

Total healthcare spend per diabetic in Somalia: US$ 30

———-

Paul D Kennedy is a type 2 diabetic. He used his skills as an international consultant and researcher to find a way to control his diabetes using diet alone and, about five years ago, he stopped taking medications to control his blood glucose levels. You can find out more from beating-diabetes.com or by contacting Paul at paul@beating-diabetes.com. His book Beating Diabetes is available for download from Amazon.

 

Leadership

Engineering Your Leadership

Creating a multidimensional approach for successful leadership development is increasingly becoming a challenge in industries facing significant change. In my healthcare career, I have seen a great deal of shrinkage in the services healthcare centers and facilities offer. Just as consistent, administrative teams are reducing the expenditures of programs surrounding areas of staff development, both in a professional approach (such as for leadership) and a skills approach (OJTs). Leadership development is being left to minimal involvement with a growing focus on books, webinars, websites, assessments and articles. These things are great, so long as they are structured in a manner that strategically develops leaders.

When considering the topics of leadership development, there are a few core areas that should be reviewed. First, and foundationally, is leadership research. The focus and study of leadership research reveals a history of evolution of thought and approaches to leadership development. This includes strengthened assessments and models over time, as well as analyses on what successful and effective leaders have regarding traits, skills and behaviors.

As leadership research is broken down, the study of leadership styles can provide leaders with a great deal of information as they analyze their own leadership styles while considering the characteristics of other styles. This opens up expanded views and provides education to the leader on how to expand their own style. A lot of focus in leadership styles is centered on answering the question of ‘what style makes the most effective and successful leader’. Frankly, there isn’t a magic bullet style; it’s situational and individually based, which flows naturally into the next element of study in leadership development. Effective leaders have the finely tuned ability to apply situational leadership and contingency approaches, based on the situation, environmental variables, followers and tasks. The models in this area provide leaders with a pragmatic approach to the various situations that are frequently faced.

The next critical area of review for leadership development is understanding followers and employees. The key is to be able to identify follower and employee types, as well as understanding what traits, behaviors and characteristics that effective employees and followers possess. Understanding these items is like looking into a crystal ball; you can more accurately predict the likely success and struggles of an employee and/or group of employees.

The last, most critical, element is the alignment and optimization of the leader with the variables above. If a leader is able to develop the skills, traits, characteristics and behaviors of effective leaders while also developing their own leadership style, the leader’s development is immensely advanced. Stepping beyond these items, applying situational leadership gives the leader an entirely new level of transformative leadership through the ability to respond and effectively lead in rapidly changing environments. When you couple this with the understanding of individual follower and employee dynamics, the leader becomes deeply aligned with an effective leadership approach that is applicable in any environment. A great tool to address these areas is The Optimized Leader, as it is developed around these very topics, strategically structured to answer the challenges leaders face with a key approach: it applies to all leaders, individually more than (versus) all leaders, collectively.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Dr._Hesston_L._Johnson/1372491

 

Finance, Investments, Real Estate

Why Land Often Beats Stocks And Bonds

As investors look for ways to ensure a good return on their money, land sales are increasing in popularity. Profits, whilst not guaranteed, are often better than those from the stock market, for several reasons:

Less risk, more profit: While some investors have a significant investment in the stock market, often with a comprehensive, well-managed portfolio, for most smaller investors, their experience of the market is limited to one or two companies and they are therefore more open to stock market fluctuations and risks. Company share prices can be affected by many external factors, often beyond the companys control and, unless you are watching the market carefully day by day, you usually have to hold onto your shares for many years in order to turn a good profit. By contrast, if you select the right land, or take the advice of a reliable land agent, you can realise potentially fantastic profits in a much shorter space of time. This is because the land thats normally made available to smaller investors has been carefully chosen. Big land investors buy and then bank land that they think will be ear-marked for development in the future, and then either hold onto it, or parcel it up and sell it to private investors, who reap the benefits if planning permission is granted at a later date. Continue reading →

FAQ, Healthcare

Why You Should Choose Herbal Supplements Over Synthetic Ones

Synthetic supplements made in pharmaceutical industries, used to be the ideal choice of supplements in the market. But today, the face of reality is going in a quite different.

With less than 5% of the share in the US markets in the past, the market share of herbal supplements has increased up to 25% in 2012 according to the data by leading market research agencies.

So why is the consumption of herbal supplements growing? The answer is simple-its better! Herbal Supplements, are increasingly being preferred over synthetic supplements because of their low side effects and effective results.

 

Changes In Perception Towards Herbal Products

 

Contrary to the established myth that herbal medicines are only based up on traditional trial-and-error methods, big herbal companies of the world like Ayur Leaf Herbals use state of the art research facilities to determine the effectiveness of such supplements.

However it has to be noted that the reliability of traditional herbal supplements has been proven even by modern research.

It’s no surprise that ginseng, which was regarded as only a traditional medicine, is now consumed widely as an ideal herbal medicine, after the modern marketing of its various of health benefits.

 

Benefits Of Herbal Products Over Synthetic Supplements

 

Compared to synthetic supplements, herbal ones have been known to have unique natural benefits like

 

lesser side effects

naturally occurring nutrients

affordable

Synthetic supplements, despite of their huge costs have been well known to give side effects to the body of the consumer.

 

Popular Herbal Products Found In The Market

 

Various types of herbal medicines can be found in the markets around USA. Let’s look at some of the most popular ones in the market

 

Soy used as an anti-cancer supplement

Cranberry used for treating urinary ailments

Garlic used as an antiviral and antiviral natural supplement

Ginkgo biloba used for improving brain functions

Echinacea for improving blood functions

Black Cohosh for treating women’s ailments

Milk Thistle used as a liver tonic

Ginseng used as an energy supplement

St. John’s Wort for treatment of depression

Saw Palmetto used for treating blood pressure and heart ailments

The above supplements have become popular due to their known positive effects on the health of people. With lots of research and studies continuously proving the effectiveness of herbal medicines, the market of herbal products throughout the world is only on the rise.

 

The Future Of Herbal Medicines

 

With the growing trend of sales, more research is set to be done in the herbal industry. Huge multinational corporations are increasing putting more money in the development of industries exclusively making herbal supplements.

With the increased investment we can expect more quality in the future. Several universities are opening up admissions in courses dedicated to herbal medicines and supplements.

Thus we can predict that the future of herbal supplements looks even brighter than today. With the world increasingly aware about the value of respecting nature, herbal supplements are making an awesome comeback in the market.

 

Thus the consumption of herbal supplements will surely continue to increase for a long time. One of the most famous companies selling them is Ayur Leaf Herbals, which have been making and marketing a diverse range of herbal supplements for the consumers.

You can find them at https://www.ayurleafherbals.com/herbal-supplements.

 

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Arijit_P_Roul/1736199

 

 

 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8124300

Leadership

The Christian Philosophy of Leadership

In the scenario described in Matthew Chapter Twenty, the mother of James and John approached Jesus asking that her sons sit beside Him in His Kingdom. This provided opportunity for Jesus to introduce three key attitudes in Christian leadership: Suffering, parity and service.

Suffering

The pressures of leadership are enormous. A leader must expect to suffer, often in secret, as part of his calling.

Parity

Ministers are equal in authority within the body of Christ. They relate to one another like knights at a round table rather than ranks in an army. Biblical government consists of ministers working together, with mutual respect as equals. Authoritarian hierarchies have no place in God’s Kingdom. They are worldly in their conception and lead to the very things for which Jesus rebuked the two disciples in this passage.

Service

Leaders have a servant rather than ruler attitude. People are the focus of their ministry, not merely tools for their own ambitions.

What were James and John seeking and how did they go about it?

They sought status and honor through manipulation. They mentioned nothing of actual work to accomplish, just ranks. They assumed the Kingdom of God would be set up just like any other government, with Jesus as supreme ruler, followed by a series of ranks.

We can imagine them plotting, “You know, Jesus can be a little tough on us sometimes. He’s really gentle with women, though. Let’s see if we can get mom to talk to Him. Maybe she can land a good position for us.”

This is politicking. Such manipulation typifies the world’s leadership. Jesus does not rebuke them for ambition because ambition is a good thing if it is for God’s glory. Instead, He warns against seeking one’s own honor.

Jesus makes it clear He is not in charge of promotions in the personnel department. The Father is. They were asking the wrong person.

From this, we see a hint of the first principle of Christian leadership in the New Testament: It is a gift from God.

Nevertheless, these sons of Zebedee had two laudable qualities, though seriously misdirected:

Ambition

This is a good characteristic if directed toward the glory of God rather than our own self-worth.

Confidence

There exists a self-confidence that is commendable if it is ultimately based on trust in God. Unfortunately, it was confidence in themselves rather than in God. “We are able.” They considered themselves eminently able. The garden of Gethsemane taught them otherwise. They abandoned Jesus and fled.

This brings up the first key attitude Jesus taught them.

First key attitude: Willing to embrace suffering

You don’t know what you are asking, Jesus said to them. Can you drink the cup I am going to drink? We can, they answered. Matthew 20:22

The call to Christian leadership is a call to suffering. The suffering involved, especially in the Western world, usually takes the form of psychological pressure and unique stresses other believers neither bear nor understand.

People often have high expectations of a leader that he is unable to meet. Some Christians may be looking more to a pastor than to Christ. When the pastor fails to meet their expectations, they may consider him incompetent.

Some under a pastor’s care may be insubmissive and will yield only when pressured. Sometimes the leader must hold the line on godly principles, risking misunderstanding and criticism.

Occasionally church leaders must apply biblical discipline when it may be unpopular to do so. When dealing with such, the leaders often cannot reveal the problem to the congregation. Members with incomplete knowledge of the case may draw wrong conclusions about the leaders’ decisions. They may imagine the leaders are too harsh or too lax in discipline. The leaders may find themselves suffering in silence. Yet, God has wisely arranged it so.

Titles and honors that accompany the office of leader are insufficient to compensate for the stress. Those who highly value titles or honors more than service, soon find themselves disillusioned.

Similarly, in his book, Brothers, We Are Not Professionals, John Piper attacks the attitude of professionalism in pastoral ministry that undermines the willingness to embrace suffering.

We pastors are being killed by the professionalizing of the pastoral ministry. The mentality of the professional is not… the mentality of the slave of Christ. Professionalism has nothing to do with the essence and heart of the Christian ministry… For there is no professional childlikeness, Matthew18:3; there is no professional tenderheartedness, Ephesians 4:32; there is no professional panting after God. Psalm 42:1.

Second key attitude: Parity

Jesus called them together and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave Matthew 20:25-27

On the mission field, I worked with a newly ordained national who happened to be a medical doctor. He had some rough edges to his personality, independent and opinionated. Over time we became great friends and worked well together. Let’s call him José.

Eventually, José moved to another city to work with a team. A missionary from that team called me and asked, Roger, I’m having trouble getting along with José. I noticed you get along fine and work productively together. Can you give me some clues as to how to handle him?

This was my answer: Brother, in the first place, quit trying to handle him. Treat him as a colleague. Call him up once in a while and ask his advice. Ask him to help you. Think of him as your equal because after all, he has the same ordination as you. Do this and he will eat out of your hand.

The missionary paused on the phone for about twenty seconds. I don’t think I can do that, he replied. Then I cannot help you, I concluded.

Sadly, he could not consider a national, even a medical doctor, his equal. He saw himself on the rung of a hierarchy with the nationals a lower rank. Treating José as an equal would have contradicted his entire view of leadership, inherited from his corporate business culture.

Continue reading →