NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH DIABETES GROWS 4% ANNUALLY
Armenpress
Jun 15 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS: The number of people in Armenia with
diabetes grows 4 percent every year.
Ashot Mamikonian, chief endocrinologist of the health ministry,
said this is a common trend worldwide.
About 35,000 people in Armenia have diabetes. The number of children
with this diseases also grows due to soaring rates of obesity in
children, a major reason accounting for the growth . They acquire the
so-called type 2 diabetes, a disease that used to be seen primarily
in adults over age 45. Mamikonian said diabetes is a disease that
wreaks havoc on just about every part of the body, including the
eyes. While many of the health problems associated with diabetes are
well publicized, many people are unaware that the disease causes severe
vision problems that can lead to blindness. Persons with diabetes
are also at increased risk of developing cataracts or glaucoma.
While type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented, it only accounts for about
5% to 10% of all cases. The rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes,
especially among children, adolescents has caused a huge increase
in total cases. Mamikonian says there are simple ways to avoid this
disease-to maintain a healthy weight, increase physical activity,
watch and control blood sugar levels and blood pressure.
Seven thousand people with diabetes out of the 35,000 in Armenia are
insulin dependent, others use pills to reduce the amount of sugar in
blood. All insulin dependant patients receive it free.