The rates of diabetes in Egypt has significantly increased exceeding international rates, according to the participants in the 4th Arab Diabetes forum. Egypt is now ranked eighth highest in the world in terms of the disease.
Abbas Oraby, a professor of endocrinology and diabetes at the University of Zagazig, said in his speech to the Conference held on Thursday, that the incidence of diabetes in Egypt rose to 16.5 million people, half of which do not know they suffer from this disease, while the other half receives treatment.
Oraby said the disease has risen 83 percent over the past 15 years, which is a very large increase compared to international rates.
The number of people suffering diabetes around the world is 360 million and is expected to increase to 500 million by 2030.
Middle East and the Arab world are the countries suffering from diabetes the most, specifically Egypt and the Gulf countries. The increase of the disease is due to unhealthy lifestyles and poor nutritional habits, in addition to genetic factors.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
