Supporting Evidence and Statistics and Points of Interest
Diabetes is one of the five disease groups under non-communicable diseases (NCDs). It is the only disease in the group that has continually developed into a significant disease burden based on disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) statistics from 1990 to 2019. It has a direct and indirect impact on society. Diabetes causes a high number of deaths and causes other conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, vision impairment, dementia, neoplasms, and tuberculosis.
The 2019 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) reveals that diabetes caused close to 409,000 people aged 20 years or older to die in the Americas, about 6% of the total deaths (Cousin et al., 2019). The disease was also responsible for 2266 crude DALYs per 100,000 adults in the region. A key point of interest to note is that type 2 diabetes is the most prevalent, with a standardized death rate of about 47 per 100,000 adults and 25% on the global average (Cousin et al., 2019). It caused about 1875 standardized DALYs per 100,000 adults, 29% above the global average.
Major Risk Factors
The GBD report indicates that the leading risk factors include type 2 diabetes. This includes a high BMI in the region, ranging between 56% and 66% (Cousin et al., 2019). Excessive weight results from reduced consumption of whole grains, seeds, fiber, fruits, and nuts. People in the US prefer to consume sweetened beverages and red and processed meat. The high preference for ultra-processed foods increases the dietary risks, as people do not engage in adequate physical activity. Smoking and air pollution cause more challenges in the region.
Potential Gaps / Limitations in Data
The GBD report indicates that the data used for analysis is limited in several ways. The key challenge lies in the need for high-quality data that translates to inaccurate findings, as data is collected from many countries and regions. The broad focus also reduces the effect of sparse data as opposed to focusing on a single country. The report is based on a broad definition of diabetes that helps to widen the data available for analysis, but is limited by adjustments that can introduce measurement bias. The GBD report is prepared using the HAQ Index, which applies to countries with sparse data but introduces a new challenge of overestimating the disease burden.
Social / Economic Opportunities to Control / Reduce Disease Prevalence
Numerous social opportunities exist to reduce diabetes in the United States by addressing the risk factors, especially obesity. It includes controlling dietary risks through primary prevention interventions proposed under the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG3 on health. The goal is set as a target for nations to reduce the prevalence of NCDs, leading to reduced premature mortality.
The other opportunity is to reduce smoking by curbing drug and substance abuse and enhancing physical activity. Legislation can help to contain air pollution and control organic pollutants. The same has been prioritized under SDG target 3.9, which calls upon nations to reduce deaths and diseases caused by air pollution.
Reference
Cousin, E., Schmidt, M. I., Ong, K. L., Lozano, R., Afshin, A., Abushouk, A. I., Agarwal, G., Agudelo-Botero, M., Al-Aly, Z., Alcalde-Rabanal, J. E., Alvis-Guzman, N., Alvis-Zakzuk, N. J., Antony, B., Asaad, M., Bärnighausen, T. W., Basu, S., Bensenor, I. M., Butt, Z. A., Campos-Nonato, I. R., & Chattu, V. K. (2022). Burden of iabetes and hyperglycaemia in adults in the Americas, 1990–2019: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 10(9), 655–667. Web.