Diabetes: The Silent Lifestyle Disease Killing PNG and Developed Countries - What UN Says We Must Do

Diabetes is no longer a disease for rich countries only. It is now one of the biggest killers in Papua New Guinea and around the world. According to the United Nations, the number of adults living with diabetes has nearly quadrupled since 1980 to over 422 million adults worldwide. In 2022, this number grew even higher to *830 million people living with diabetes. 8fa993d1 The sad part? Most of this rise is happening in low and middle-income countries like PNG. 8fa9 What is Diabetes? (UN Definition) The World Health Organization (WHO), the health agency of the UN, says: "Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces, which leads to an increased concentration of glucose in the blood." Why Should Both PNG and Developed Countries Worry? The UN warns that diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke and lower limb amputation. In fact, the WHO said in 2012 alone, diabetes caused 1.5 million deaths, and 43% died before age 70. By 2021, that number rose to over 2 million deaths from diabetes and kidney disease. Whether you are in Mount Hagen, Port Moresby, Sydney, London or New York - the risk is the same if we live an unhealthy lifestyle. What Causes Type 2 Diabetes? UN Explains WHO Spokesperson said the rise is largely due to changes in lifestyle: "We are eating more heavy foods, full of fat and sugar; we are less physically active; and we have a more sedentary way of living." For PNG: Too much white rice, sugary drinks (Coke), lamb flaps, and less gardening/walking. For Developed Countries: Fast food, processed food, office jobs with no exercise, and sugary snacks. Same root cause. How to Prevent Diabetes - UN Recommendations The good news from WHO: Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed. The UN's Global Report on Diabetes calls for 4 simple actions: 1. Eat Healthily - PNG: More kaukau, kumu, fresh fish, less oil - Developed: More whole foods, less processed food 2. Be Physically Active - 30 minutes walk every day. Gardening, walking to market counts! 3. Avoid Excessive Weight Gain - WHO says more than 1 in 3 adults are now overweight e5de 4. Avoid Tobacco Use - Healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco use can prevent diabetes 93d1 My Advice for PNG Families Don't wait until you are blind or need amputation. Every 30 seconds, a lower limb is lost to diabetes somewhere in the world. Go to your health centre, check your blood sugar. It is a simple, inexpensive test. If you have Type 2, it can be managed with diet, exercise, and generic medicines. --- REFERENCES 1. United Nations News - ‘Make healthy choices’ urges UN agency, to prevent and manage chronic diabetes (14 Nov 2018). https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/11/1024991 2. World Health Organization - Diabetes Fact Sheet . https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diabetes. 3. WHO Global Report on Diabetes 2016 - https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241565257. 4. WHO - World Diabetes Day 2025: Diabetes across life stages - https://www.who.int/news.